Today, thanks to JAMTI, we were at a cattle slaughterhouse in the south of Japan where animals are treated calmly and with as much respect as possible. They were wagyu cattle and the plant was among the calmest we have seen.
Specialized and skilled lairage caretakers monitor the welfare and conditions for cattle. They wash the cattlle, keep the animals’ water troughs clean and full and keep the floor clean and anti-slip. At just 23 animals per hour, the wagyu cattle (who are accustomed to human contact) were led individually by their tethers and attached to a very slow-moving automated overhead rail which brought them one by one into the stun pen where they were promptly and correctly stunned with a penetrating captive bolt. We observed no resistance or vocalisations during this process.
We discussed room for improvement in procedures for cattle unable to walk, which we did not witness ourselves. Fortunately it is very uncommon for wagyu cattle to arrive injured from transport, but if they do, they are not put out of their misery right away but transported 1.5 hrs further to a specialized emergency abattoir. Injured or weak animals at slaughterhouses are not put out of their misery humanely and promptly, but that is why we are here – to stimulate better methods and ideas.
The company also runs a pig slaughterhouse using electrical stunning. With one single-file raceway, they were very interested in our suggestion to try a labyrinth design in the crowdpen to ease movement of groups of pigs into single file. If implemented, we plan to invite them to present their experience at our future conference on better practices! We will remain in touch. Our gratitude goes to JAMTI and the managers of this plant for allowing us in and being motivated to have good.
