Abstract

Large-scale, automation, high process line speeds and a cheap and easily replaceable workforce enabled the industrialisation of slaughter during the 19th and 20th centuries, and continued consolidation, vertical integration and high-tech inventions took the development to the present day. The first mention of organised mobile slaughter may have been in the United States towards the end of the 20th century. Since then, the development has to some extent been determined by regulations on official meat inspections. At present, fish, poultry, livestock, reindeer and bison are slaughtered in various types of mobile establishments across many countries, but the total numbers are not known. This chapter examines the implications of mobile slaughter for animal welfare, followed by a discussion on its sustainability and feasibility. Finally, reference is made to many training resources that provide guidance for those considering setting up a mobile slaughterhouse, and summarise experiences from already started or completed projects in several countries. By eliminating liveanimal transport and increasing farmers’ control over the food chain, mobile slaughter contributes to rural development and potentially improves animal welfare and meat quality. The success of mobile abattoirs is affected by many factors and profitability largely depends on the opportunities to create added value and get premium retail prices for end products. Practical experience and further research can provide a basis for a slightly more liberal view of local meat and mobile slaughter.

Published in

Title: Preslaughter handling and slaughter of meat animals
ISBN: 978-90-8686-372-3, eISBN: 978-90-8686-924-4
Publisher: Wageningen Academic Publishers

SLU Authors

• Hultgren, Jan

  • Department of Applied Animal Science and Welfare, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences
    

UKÄ Subject classification

Animal and Dairy Science


Publication identifier

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3920/978-90-8686-924-4_10

Permanent link to this page (URI)

https://res.slu.se/id/publ/119730