Working Together to Improve Welfare for Laying Hens at End of Flock. Rachel M. Ouckama DVM Diplomate ACPV Maple Lodge Farms, Ontario

Transcription

1 Working Together to Improve Welfare for Laying Hens at End of Flock Rachel M. Ouckama DVM Diplomate ACPV Maple Lodge Farms, Ontario

2 Outline: Relative to end of lay flocks Shipping to Slaughter as Preferred end of flock disposal method. Review of Animal welfare risks encountered Historical and regulatory issues associated with transportation to slaughter Progress made to reduce these risks and improve welfare considerations in flock disposal What you the producer can do to aid in the process and ensure success. 2

3 End of flock disposal Necessary to allow housing of replacement flock All methods of disposal have costs & risks associated (differ with method) On farm : whole barn gas euthanasia, container gas euthanasia, portable slaughter line, individual bird euthanasia...followed by composting, burial or rendering versus transport to slaughter facility. MAK cart On farm disposal? 3

4 End of flock disposal Considerations: Practicality/ logistics/seasonal restrictions/ whether available Safeguards for personnel/worker safety regs. Safeguards for birds Restrictions on end disposal (municipal reg, soil type, full feather) Consistency/ repeatability/ risk in where can go wrong Speed/efficiency (size flock, tight replacement schedule) Perception on degree of humaneness (including visual impact) All methods have significant costs associated 4

5 End of flock disposal Shipping to slaughter as preferred method Ensures controlled, humane euthanasia Enables use of valuable meat product and efficient recycling of by products Environmentally sustainable Worker considerations Training, educational resources both catching and transport Degree of difficulty Human safety in performing Emotional Long history with high success rate Considerable new research on transport techniques Available choice in eastern Canada 5

6 Welfare Risks in End of Lay Hens: Physiology Risks Fragile, brittle bones Metabolic depletion, internal egg. Poor feathering, thermoregulation Stress, handling, feed withdrawal Physical Risks/Trauma Little space, building design, cage design Handling in catching/ loading process Crate and transport equipment design Environmental Risks Temperature, precipitation, humidity Ventilation Distance and time 6

7 How to manage in practical terms: Physiology Risks Late lay flock management Sorting, culling prior to catch date. Preconditioning barn temperature Feed withdrawal techniques Physical Risks/Trauma Attention to set up and design Training in handling Not rushing, care Environmental Risks Extreme weather plans Density, time of day, weather protection. Training and design transport Research for continuous improvement Very long barns 7

8 Regulatory issues: primarily transportation Health of Animals Act Transportation regulation Welfare codes Administrative monetary penalties (AMP) Fines under AMP/ publication of repeat offenders Litigation under criminal code All relative to single load, single incident, could be single individual bird Interpretation after the fact of finding injury or DOA Burden of proof is on the transporters Charges can extend to any involved including producer. Overall success rate is immaterial Public perception is paramount 8

9 Proactive response from all levels Change in mind set Preparation to prevent Planned response to identified risks Investigation and corrective actions if occurrences Has to occur at all levels. All have responsibility to ensure animal welfare.

10 PREPARATION TO PREVENT Integrate through whole system Training: Should this bird be loaded Euthanasia techniques Catching training Transporter training/certification Research: On board monitoring, position of devices Air flow within load Mechanical ventilation assistance, recirculation, heat retention Tarp material, design, closure Bird behaviour, response, tolerance to establish trigger points Cage design for door opening/ widths ease of bird removal.

11 PROGRESS and Research Equipment design to enable single handling point Previous crate system: multiple handling/bird transfer points, higher risk injury Old system

12 PROGRESS and Research Dolley system Fit narrow alleyways Load at cage directly into drawers Single handling in removing from cage only Can stage within barn prior to loading on truck Lift loading onto truck Improved ventilation around containers on truck Heavy when full: 800 lb

13 PROGRESS and Research Controlled Atmosphere stunning: Rapid smooth unloading by rolling off dollies Automated unloading/ sliding of drawers Remain in drawers through stun process Insensible when hanging on shackle

14 Biggest risks in transport can be managed Access to barn/ door positions Density within crates: Bird numbers within crate/ total per load weight/ sq. meter Temperature shock Time on a standing truck ( speed in loading) Care in handling Limiting excess moisture/wetness Protection precipitation Eaves trough / wind break Includes feed withdrawal Bird condition/presence of culls Training completed and supervision

15 What producer can do to help COMMUNICATION Timing/ scheduling of pick up Time of loading consider weather at load AND holding at plant Reporting any issues/ disease conditions Accurate bird weights Accurate numbers/population Actual time off feed Type of cage/cage opening and barn design 15

16 Challenges with barn design Safety for chickens, safety for workers Worker safety, outside rows No foot hold Catching at height 6 tiers, new designs even higher

17 Challenges with barn design Old cages. Not welfare friendly. Door opening too small New cages, more room for birds Big door but cage too wide or too long to reach birds!!! Need method to divide

18 Challenges with barn design When designing barn also think of how you will get birds out at the end!! Large cages pile up issues New aviary system, corralling issues

19 Aviary systems especially challenging Aviary system early in catching process Hard to reach behind water lines and at top

20 What producer can do to help BARN SET UP Open/ clear alleyways, remove obstacles Is there sufficient height for dollies? Floor condition/ repair Can floor support the weight? Driveway clear and wide enough, turning radius, road entrance Loading area clear and level, ground condition Enough room to unload empties Staging area available inside barn Important in bad weather, allows rapid loading Facilities for catchers ( biosecurity, washroom, break area) 20

21 Barn set up Clean, strong floors Know clearance under equipment

22 Barn set up Level driveway, hard surface Flat area for entire truck Essential for safety Area to unload and stage empty dolleys

23 What producer can do to help PRECONDITIONING Culling of flock prior to end date Feed withdrawal Sufficient to minimize manure build up on load ( moisture control) Short enough to provide needed energy reserves 3-7 hours recommended Temperature conditioning especially in cold 23

24 What producer can do to help ENVIRONMENT CONTROL DURING CATCHING Producer be present regularly during procedure Ventilation adjustments Sufficient air movement/ dust/ moisture control Heat retention in cold weather Comfortable for people then comfortable for birds Wind breaks, eaves trough over load out doors. Staging area protection and ventilation Strong enough to support multiple dollies. Lighting : sectional down length of barn Consideration when red lights/ miners lights have to be used 24

25 What producer can do to help CREW TRAINING Training complete and supervision in place. Includes procedures for emergency or medical response Includes if producer s own family crew REVIEW AND CORRECTIVE ACTIONS Assess how the loading went each time. Identify areas where improvement can be made. Communicate suggestions/ideas to catching and transport Include areas that are under producer control that could be improved Plan to have specific improvements in place for next time. 25

26 What we all can do Preparation to prevent Planned response to identified risks Investigation and corrective actions if occurrences WORKING TOGETHER WE WILL IMPROVE WELFARE FOR END OF LAY HENS 26