Animal welfare aspects of biotechnology

It's difficult to value the effects on animals caused by genetic engineering. Nowadays an enormous increase on animal tests is taken place. The detrimental alterations of small number of living born gene altered animals are in literature explained by deficiencies in method and the increased growth is described with deficient mechanisms on regulation. Not only the intention to increase productivity by genetic engineering but also the method to improve by fragments (genes) not facing the animals totality is against prevention of cruelty to animals.     

Animal welfare aspects of animal slaughter

For many years animal welfare aspects of slaughtering were not discussed. But in the last ten years the research has much increased in this field. The new knowledges will be taken in account in national and european legislation. The question if ritual slaughtering without pre-slaughter stunning has to be allowed, was answered by the amendment of the Animal Welfare Act: This form of slaughtering is now only allowed in the context of constitutional guaranteed religious liberty.     

Animal welfare legal aspects of rodeo events

Rodeo events have been criticised by animal welfare organisations as being adverse to animal protection, for years. This was the motive for TVT to put several of these criticised disciplines to evaluation in terms of animal protection aspects. For that purpose, various rodeo events were visited, and videotaped material of almost all events, which had taken place in Germany in 2003 and 2004, was evaluated. Rodeo events are subject to and 11, sec.1, No. 3d, German Animal Protection Act, which implies compulsory accreditation. In the scope of such events, causing any sort of pain and suffering (and 3 No. 6 German Animal Protection Act) is prohibited. A proof of the severity of the pain caused, is therefore no necessity. For the "critical" disciplines "Bare Back Riding" and "Saddle Bronc Riding" a so called "flank" is used. A flank is a leather strap, fastened to the sensitive parts of the horse skin, (around the flanks,) which is tightened to a maximum as soon as the horse is released from the starting box. Analysis show, that the strap has to be seen as the trigger for the wanted kow-tow. The different coping strategies shown by the animals prove that the leather strap is an apt instrument to cause pain and/or suffering (anxiety/fear/stress) in horses. Bull riding, instead, showed that the rider has to be seen primarily as the trigger for defence behaviour, here. In consideration of the current legal position and taking ethic principles into account, it seems appropriate to only authorise rodeo events under the condition of a flank strap ban. Bull riding should be banned in general.     

Animal welfare aspects of the killing of fish

According to the Animal Protection Law (1986) fish are to be killed by methods which do not cause pain. However, the regulations do not cover the killing of non-food fish. A questionnaire, conducted among 85 fish scientists, revealed that single fish should be killed by a blow on the head, and larger numbers by electrical methods or by use of chemicals. Decapitation was proposed for eels. A regulation from 1936 stipulates the methods for the slaughtering of food fish. Mechanical or electrical stunning is compulsory except for eel and flatfish. The questionnaire showed that in general the present legal regulations are sufficient for the slaughtering of fish with the exception of eels. The commercially available apparatus for stunning and killing do not always fulfill the requirements of animal protection, slaughtering technology and safety for the user. Official testing of these apparatus as well as the evaluation of new methods--like CO2-stunning--are necessary in order to prevent the use of methods which are feasible, but do not fulfill animal welfare, especially for eel.     

Animal welfare aspects of raising South American camelids

The number of South American Camelids (SAC) increased over the last years in Germany. Therefore it is important to develop guidelines regarding aspects of animal welfare. Recommendations for husbandry and feeding are given. In principal it is possible to keep llamas and alpacas under middle European conditions with respect to animal welfare. However problems do sometimes occur because of a lack of knowledge of breeders about the basic requirements of the animals. In contrast to other species it is much more difficult to get scientific based informations and to guarantee veterinarian service. Therefore more care have to be taken in the education of breeders and veterinarians.     

Animal welfare education in Turkey

Veterinary medical education in Turkey began in 1842 and is now offered by 17 universities. Since 1895, topics related to animal welfare have been covered as part of the curriculum in courses titled Deontology, Health Inspection, and Laws of Veterinary Medicine. During the 2004/2005 academic year, for the first time, animal welfare was included as a separate course as part of the curriculum in two veterinary faculties. As a result of curriculum adjustment efforts at both national and international levels, the animal-welfare course is now expected to be required for all veterinary students in Turkey. This study reports on the development of animal-welfare curricula in veterinary medical education in Turkey and describes the historical events from which the appreciation of it arose.     

现代养猪生产中的福利问题

世界畜牧业水平不断提高,人们生活水平不断改善,生产高品质畜禽产品成为世界的共同目标。经过多年的研究和生产实践发现,满足动物所需的各种条件,改善动物的福利状况有利于提高畜禽产品品质。随着人道主义向畜牧业渗透,人们开始逐渐重视动物的福利,关于动物福利的研究也逐步展开。本文主要探讨现代化养猪生产中的福利问题及相应的对策。1动物福利的定义、评价及描述动物福利是一个复杂的概念,受多种因素影响。一般定义为动物的生活质量要与动物康乐相对应,使动物的身体及心理与环境相协调。动物福利科学涉及动物行为学、解剖学、神经生理学…     

动物福利及GAP对生猪养殖的福利要求

主要从主观感受式、生物学功能式、自然生活式三个方面介绍了动物福利的定义、动物福利相关法律及国内外发展现状;并结合良好农业规范(GAP)标准中生猪饲养过程控制,重点阐述了影响生猪福利的环节和采取的相应措施,即地面和垫料;畜禽群体结构和混群;气侯、光照和噪音;畜舍空间;气流与空气质量;微生物环境;饲养人员与畜禽的互作;生长促进剂;畜舍环境富集。