General Data

Project Phases

This project is divided into four sections by livestock four group (poultry, swine, ruminants and horses). The fifth section includes all previously mentioned sections and addresses problems of transport and slaughterhouses (individually for white and red meat).

The objectives of each section are to propose solutions to eliminate unsuitable breeding methods or to propose new alternative forms of breeding that are more suitable for individual species and categories of livestock. We will propose starting points for the development of new or the modification of existing regulations and guidelines for good farming practices. Our work will be underpinned by fieldwork and a close relationship with breeders. We will use prepared questionnaires to gain insights into specific characteristics of individual species and categories of livestock. The aim is to obtain information about the actual situation in Slovenian breeding and how it works in practice. We want to put all our findings into practice and in this way actively influence the improvement of health and welfare of farm animals. Nothing is so good that it cannot be improved.

Project description

The main objectives of the project are to investigate the scope, forms and methods of animal husbandry for individual species of livestock that are at odds with expected societal norms and already adopted policies and regulations in the field of animal breeding, health, protection and welfare.

The aim is to bring the profession and the public closer together and to highlight problems, some of which are very pressing (e.g.: keel bone fractures in layers, tail biting in pigs, castration without proper anaesthesia, stocking density in fattening beef cattle, lack of drinking water in calves and grazing, poor legislation in the field of standards for horses, living conditions). Special attention must be paid to loading, transport and unloading of animals to the slaughterhouse, treatment in the period before slaughter and preparation before stunning and the process of stunning and slaughter in slaughterhouses, ritual slaughter. As an alternative solution to the problems of transport itself, animal exhaustion, possible injuries and consequent poor meat quality, lower capacity slaughterhouses and mobile slaughterhouses are presented.

Animal welfare is a complex and multifaceted concept with scientific, ethical, economic, cultural, social, religious and political dimensions and is attracting increasing interest in civil society. Due to the topicality of the problem and its great importance for society, the project team is composed of experts from different disciplines. Increasement of the effectiveness of animal welfare measures leads to quickly visible results. Animals are more resistant and fewer infectious diseases occur in good conditions, without stress and additional unnecessary effort. As a result, the use of antibiotics and other therapeutics is reduced and the profitability of breeding is increased. Indirectly, a cleaner environment and cheaper and safer food is ensured. Such a positive effect also reflects in the international competitiveness of domestic breeding production.

Structure of the project group

SICRIS

Final Report