Student Assignments

1. There is a line breakdown at a pig abattoir. Discuss all the effects that this could have on animal welfare and on product quality. 2. A farmer runs two ocks of breeding sheep on separate properties. The genetic background of the ocks is the same, and the rams are interchanged. The lambs are slaughtered at the same time of year and under the same circumstances, often being delivered to the same abattoir in the same truck. One ock consistently produces lambs which have blood splash in their carcasses, whereas the other ock does not. Design a series of trials aimed at identifying the cause of the blood splash. 3. A duck processor has been criticized by a government inspector for unloading ducks from transport crates by pulling them out by their necks. The processor has agreed to participate in some research which aims at determining whether handling the birds by the neck is any more or less stressful than other methods. Design a research programme which could be used in this situation. 4. Review the ways in which preslaughter handling of bulls affects their meat quality. 5. A poultry processing company is considering changing from electrical stunning to gas stunning. You have been called in to advise them on the advantages and disadvantages of making the change. Prepare a written report which summarizes the key welfare and quality issues. 6. A pig abattoir does contract killing for a number of bacon factories, wholesale distributors and smallgoods manufacturers. One bacon factory consistently claims that the carcasses it receives are badly bruised. The pigs are sourced from particular growers. Describe how you would set about solving this problem. 7. An animal welfare pressure group has publicly criticized a beef packer 285

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Student Assignments

for inhumane handling and slaughtering practices. The criticisms are general and not specic. You have been asked by the manager of the beef packing plant to do a complete independent welfare audit on the practices at the plant. Describe how you would go about this, emphasizing particular features you would examine in detail. 8. Describe the ways in which the sarcoplasmic Ca2+ concentration during post-mortem muscle metabolism is likely to be inuenced by preslaughter factors that affect meat quality. 9. A poultry processing company has received complaints from one of its main customers that there are hockburn and breast blisters in the carcasses. Discuss how the plant could deal with this problem. 10. Prepare a document which discusses the welfare, hygiene and quality issues connected with slaughtering late pregnant cattle, sheep and pigs. Take into account that some animals may give birth whilst in the holding pens, and that some well developed fetuses could be removed at evisceration. Produce a set of recommendations.