Humane Slaughter

From the paddock to the plate, all animals raised and slaughtered for food must be treated humanely and with full regard for their needs as living, feeling creatures.

There are four areas that could be improved to make slaughter more humane for Australian farm animals. These areas are Slaughter without stunning; Transport of dairy calves; Handling in abattoirs; and Transport and trucking conditions.

How you can help

Become a Political Animal

  • Ask your Federal MP how they would address these animal welfare issues.

Slaughter without stunning

There are a number of abattoirs in Australia that have an exemption to slaughter sheep without stunning them first. This means animals are fully conscious when their throats are cut. These exemptions are given to abattoirs to meet a small demand in Australia for religious slaughter.

The RSPCA believes all animals must be slaughtered humanely, regardless of religious or cultural dogma. All available scientific evidence points to the fact that animals that are slaughtered without being stunned suffer painful, prolonged deaths.

What we want

  1. Withdraw exemptions for the slaughter of animals without prior stunning to meet export markets - continuing to allow the export of meat from animals that have not been stunned undermines a successful and humane export industry.
  2. Withdraw exemptions for the slaughter of animals without prior stunning for domestic consumption.

Transport of young dairy calves

900,000 dairy calves are transported to slaughter every year in Australia and under conditions that show little consideration for an animal that is barely five days old. These 'bobby calves' are a low-value by-product of dairy farming. For cows to produce milk, they have to give birth to a calf every year. The majority of male calves and some female calves are surplus to the farmer's needs. They are separated from their mother shortly after birth, hand fed then transported to slaughter from 5 days old (some are destined for further rearing). Current regulations mean calves can be trucked for 18 hours straight and there is no requirement to feed them for 36 hours.

Because they will very soon go to slaughter, bobby calves often don't get the same standard of housing, cleanliness, care or attention as other calves destined for further rearing.

What we want:

  1. Bobby calves should be fed twice a day and be provided with clean, dry shelter and bedding.
  2. Bobby calves should be at least 10 days old before being transported to slaughter and fed at least 4 hours prior to transport.
  3. Transport to the abattoir should be less than 10 hours and trucks should have bedding, protection from the elements and enough room for all calves to lie down.
  4. Calves should not be subjected to rough handling, the use of dogs or electric prodders.

Handling in abattoirs

The abattoir is the end of the road for livestock and an extremely stressful period in the animal's life, in part due to mixing with unfamiliar animals. We have a duty to ensure animals endure as little stress as possible. Stockpeople should practice considerate handling and that means no shouting, hitting or use of electric prodders.

The RSPCA believes that the key to good animal welfare in abattoirs is low-stress handling techniques and facilities. Facilities should be designed to take advantage of an animal's natural behaviour and abattoir workers should be trained in low-stress handling.

What we want:

  1. All animals should have access to water on arrival at the abattoir.
  2. There should be a greater focus on animal welfare in the Australian standards for slaughter.
  3. CCTV should be placed in all abattoirs to monitor how animals are treated.
  4. Electric prodders should be banned.

Transport and trucking conditions

480 million animals are trucked across Australia ever year to be slaughtered in abattoirs. Transport is undoubtedly the most stressful time in the life of a farm animal, particularly those in extensive industries like cattle and sheep, that aren't used to interacting with humans. Transport begins with mustering and generally involves some time without feed and water.

National land transport standards were developed in 2009 but are yet to be implemented in state government legislation. While these standards are a very positive step forward, there are still some major areas of concern to the RSPCA including the lifting and dragging of young animals, the total time that animals are allowed to be off water and the use of electric prodders.

What we want:

  1. State and Territory governments to incorporate the new national standards into legislation as soon as possible.
  2. Animals slaughtered as close to the farm gate as possible.
  3. Adherence to time off water limits.
  4. Good preparation prior to travel with only fit and healthy animals transported.