TY - JOUR

T1 - Scientific opinion concerning the killing of rabbits for purposes other than slaughter

AU - Nielsen, Soren Saxmose

AU - Alvarez, Julio

AU - Bicout, Dominique Joseph

AU - Calistri, Paolo

AU - Depner, Klaus

AU - Drewe, Julian Ashley

AU - Garin-Bastuji, Bruno

AU - Rojas, Jose Luis Gonzales

AU - Schmidt, Christian Gortazar

AU - Michel, Virginie

AU - Chueca, Miguel Angel Miranda

AU - Roberts, Helen Clare

AU - Sihvonen, Liisa Helena

AU - Stahl, Karl

AU - Calvo, Antonio Velarde

AU - Viltrop, Arvo

AU - Winckler, Christoph

AU - Candiani, Denise

AU - Fabris, Chiara

AU - Mosbach-Schulz, Olaf

AU - Van der Stede, Yves

AU - Spoolder, Hans

PY - 2020/1

Y1 - 2020/1

N2 - Rabbits of different ages may have to be killed on‐farm for purposes other than slaughter (where slaughter is defined as killing for human consumption) either individually or on a large scale (e.g. for production reasons or for disease control). The purpose of this opinion was to assess the risks associated to the on‐farm killing of rabbits. The processes during on‐farm killing that were assessed included handling, stunning and/or killing methods (including restraint). The latter were grouped into four categories: electrical methods, mechanical methods, controlled atmosphere method and lethal injection. In total, 14 hazards were identified and characterised, most of these related to stunning and/or killing. The staff was identified as the origin for all hazards, either due to lack of the appropriate skill sets needed to perform tasks or due to fatigue. Possible corrective and preventive measures were assessed: measures to correct hazards were identified for five hazards and the staff was shown to have a crucial role in prevention. Five welfare consequences of the welfare hazards to which rabbits can be exposed to during on‐farm killing were identified: not being dead, consciousness, pain, fear and distress. Welfare consequences and relevant animal‐based measures were described. Outcome tables linking hazards, welfare consequences, animal‐based measures, origins, preventive and corrective measures were developed for each process. Mitigation measures to minimise welfare consequences are proposed.

AB - Rabbits of different ages may have to be killed on‐farm for purposes other than slaughter (where slaughter is defined as killing for human consumption) either individually or on a large scale (e.g. for production reasons or for disease control). The purpose of this opinion was to assess the risks associated to the on‐farm killing of rabbits. The processes during on‐farm killing that were assessed included handling, stunning and/or killing methods (including restraint). The latter were grouped into four categories: electrical methods, mechanical methods, controlled atmosphere method and lethal injection. In total, 14 hazards were identified and characterised, most of these related to stunning and/or killing. The staff was identified as the origin for all hazards, either due to lack of the appropriate skill sets needed to perform tasks or due to fatigue. Possible corrective and preventive measures were assessed: measures to correct hazards were identified for five hazards and the staff was shown to have a crucial role in prevention. Five welfare consequences of the welfare hazards to which rabbits can be exposed to during on‐farm killing were identified: not being dead, consciousness, pain, fear and distress. Welfare consequences and relevant animal‐based measures were described. Outcome tables linking hazards, welfare consequences, animal‐based measures, origins, preventive and corrective measures were developed for each process. Mitigation measures to minimise welfare consequences are proposed.

KW - rabbit

KW - on-farm killing

KW - hazards

KW - animal welfare consequences

KW - welfare indicators

KW - preventive/corrective measures

U2 - 10.2903/j.efsa.2020.5943

DO - 10.2903/j.efsa.2020.5943

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 32626496

VL - 18

JO - E F S A Journal

JF - E F S A Journal

SN - 1831-4732

M1 - 5943

ER -