Poultry FCI & AM inspection

Question 1

How can bird welfare be assessed

Answer 1

Question 2

What are the legal responsibilities (legislations) of vets for animal welfare

Answer 2

Question 3

What committees/associations are involved in poultry welfare

Answer 3

Defra Codes of Recommendations – e.g. Welfare of Poultry at Slaughter and Killing (2007)

Animal Welfare Committee (AWC) – advises ministers on poultry handling & transport (1990), and slaughter of meat poultry (2009)

Humane Slaughter Association – poultry catching & handling

RSPCA Freedom Foods – welfare standards for chickens

Question 4

Describe the AWC report May 2009 for poultry

Answer 4

Question 5

Describe the DEFRA code of recommendations for poultry

Answer 5

Question 6

Describe the HSA 2006 guidance for poultry

Answer 6

Visibly unfit or injured birds should not be loaded into a transport module but should be killed on farm as quickly and humanely as possible by a suitably trained person.

Question 7

Describe depopulation/harvesting of poultry & its welfare implications.

Answer 7

Involves catching birds for slaughter

Birds are used to controlled, low-stress environments

Catching = major stressor & risk for injury

Injuries: bruising, fractures, dislocations

Welfare worsened by:
- Low individual value (large groups)
- Genetic issues: broiler leg problems, layer osteoporosis

Question 8

What are the advantages and disadvantages of mechanised harvesting in poultry

Answer 8

Question 9

Describe depopulation/harvesting of spent hens

Answer 9

Low value → little incentive for gentle handling

Caught by hand, often roughly

Injuries common due to osteoporosis & poor handling

Enriched cages → more handling injuries during removal

Barn/free range → more old/healed fractures

Birds are handled multiple times (catcher → carrier → loader)

Question 10

Describe the welfare issues of poultry transport

Answer 10

Question 11

Describe thinning system vs all in all out system poultry

Answer 11

38kg per m2 is max stocking density

thinning system: better welfare, uses lower stocking density (30kg per m2)
- maximises efficiency/use of house
- temporary social disruption

all in all out: reach 38kg per m2 at end of cycle and all birds cleared out

Question 12

Why is temperature a major concern during broiler transport?

Answer 12

Broilers are highly susceptible to heat stress & dehydration.

Selective breeding for muscle growth reduces their ability to cope with thermal stress, affecting welfare & meat quality.

Poor ventilation in transporters leads to hot & cold spots within same load.

High stocking density, low headroom & high humidity limit thermoregulation (e.g. panting, posture changes)

Question 13

Describe thermal comfort zone for broilers

Answer 13

Question 14

Describe transport of chicks with regards to temperature

Answer 14

Question 15

Describe transport of pullets

Answer 15

Question 16

Why are end-of-lay hens particularly vulnerable during transport in relation to temperature?

Answer 16

Poor feathering reduces thermal tolerance.

Highly vulnerable to cold, wet conditions; comfort zone is 22–28°C

Heat stress may occur in parts of vehicle

Compromised thermoregulation due to fatigue & food withdrawal

Less habituated to stress; often face longer journeys.

Higher mortality (DOA >1%) compared to other poultry classes

Question 17

Describe FCI in poultry

Answer 17

Introduced by the Hygiene Regulations from January 2006

FCI contributes to slaughterhouse operators’ HACCP-based food safety management systems by providing information about animals procured for slaughter

Poultry producers are required to provide the Food Business Operator (FBO) with the Food Chain Information (FCI)

The FBO checks the FCI and passes it onto the Official Veterinarian (OV)

The OV must analyse the information and use it as an integral part of the inspection procedures

Question 18

What should be on a poultry FCI

Answer 18

in disease outbreaks: epidemiological units are houses (important for investigations & traceability

Question 19

Describe collection & communication of inspection results (CCIR)

Answer 19

Question 20

Describe AM inspection of poultry. What legislation covers it?

Answer 20

Regulated by (EC) 853/2004 & 854/2004

Done on-farm or at slaughterhouse by visual inspection

Assesses:
- ID, welfare, and signs of disease/zoonosis

Individual bird checks not feasible — assess overall flock health

Should include listening & observing random sample (e.g. posture, wattle colour, cleanliness)

Question 21

Describe poultry AM inspection at the farm

Answer 21

Question 22

Describe this

Answer 22

a lot of recent bruising on wing

possibly due to handling/catching so may be welfare issue

record number of incidences

Question 23

Describe this

Answer 23

Old wound

Farmer should not have allowed bird to leave farm, should have been emergency slaughter

Welfare issue

Question 24

Describe this

Answer 24

Pododermatitis

Bird has been on wet litter

welfare issue, record number of cases

Question 25

Describe this

Answer 25

Breast blister Painful Welfare issue

Question 26

Describe this

Answer 26

Loss of blood feathers, trapped in cage very painful welfare issue, staff should be retrained

Question 27

Describe notifiable diseases in poultry

Answer 27

Avian influenza Newcastle disease The FCI should provide evidence of active Notifiable disease Typical clinical signs will be seen on farm Birds crated on arrival may be dead, have respiratory signs or be visibly affected (discoloured comb, wattles, nasal discharge)

Question 28

Describe Newcastle disease

Answer 28

Question 29

Describe avian influenza clinical signs.

Answer 29

Question 30

When are poultry typically handled during their lifetime in commercial systems?

Answer 30

As day-old chicks, transported to rearing houses As laying hens, transferred to point-of-lay facilities At end of life, transported to slaughter (often over long distances)

Question 31

How are poultry typically transported in commercial systems?

Answer 31

In modular crate systems that are loaded and unloaded using forklifts for efficiency

Question 32

What is the average mortality rate during poultry transport (broilers)?

Answer 32

Approximately 0.2% to 0.4%

Question 33

Why is transport considered a major welfare issue for poultry?

Answer 33

Because it involves: - Handling stress - Thermal extremes (hot/cold) - Overcrowding - Delays, leading to increased mortality & compromised welfare