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Humane Handling, Transport
(Oct 2002) Humane Society International (HSI), World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA) and Yudisthira sponsored a government hosted workshop titled “Understanding Welfare and Quality”. The workshop was lead by a team of experts from Bristol University. This two-day workshop was the first step towards implementing “best practice” in abattoir. Gathered together were a mix of slaughtermen, abattoir owners, businessmen, inspectors, veterinarians and government officials.
Bristol team members Steve Wotton, Paul Whittington and Lindsay, who together share over 30 years of professional experience, discussed the opportunities to improve the standards of animal welfare, and carcass and meat quality within the slaughter industry.
The workshop introduced the ‘welfare tool kit’ and addressed how carcass and meat quality are affected by downgrading, animal transport, livestock markets, lairage and the animal handling.
“Do animals suffer?” was the question that opened day two. The day’s discussion focused on technical topics such as stunning, slaughter, animal welfare and product quality. At the end of the day certificates were issued to participants.
The “Understanding Welfare and Quality” workshop was the result of a research investigation of Bali’s slaughter industry and abattoirs. Neil Trent, Director of HSI, carried out an initial investigation with Yudisthira in July. Working with BaPak Ahlit and BaPak Mudhita of the Ministry of Agriculture, Neil visited Bali’s best abattoir, a run down government slaughterhouse, as well as a traditional private slaughterhouse. The initial observations were compelling and once the video shot during the survey was viewed by key members at HSI, the decision was made to launch an in depth investigation with Bristol University.
In August, Paul Whittington and Steve Wotton spent the week with members from the Bali Ministry of Agriculture. They also attended meetings of regional slaughtermen; surveyed traditional, private and government slaughterhouses; talked to inspectors, managers, and slaughtermen; surveyed the slaughter of pigs and cows; surveyed the main stockyard; and spoke to buyers and sellers. Yudisthira and Bristol discussed with Minister BaPak Ahlit how Bali’s livestock and slaughter industry could be improved with a ‘best practice’ program.
Currently Bristol and Yudisthira are working in conjunction with HSI to develop a three-year plan which will later be presented to the Minister
Of note is that the workshop was that it was one of the few events that wasn’t cancelled in the wake of the Bali bombings. We are hopeful that the abattoir project, which in addition to its animal welfare benefits, also improves the profitability of the slaughter industry, will help them through the economic downturn brought about by the bombings.
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