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Behavioral, physiological, and hormonal responses during pre-slaughter handling in goats: a comparison between trained and untrained handlers |
Pavan Kumar1,2 
, Ahmed Abubakar Abubakar1
, Muideen Adewale Ahmed1
, Muhammad Nizam Hayat3
, Fakhrullah Abd Halim3
, Md. Moklesur Rahman4
, Mokrish Ajat5
, Ubedullah Kaka4,6
, Yong-Meng Goh5
, Awis Qurni Sazili3,4,*
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1Institute of Tropical Agriculture and Food Security, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
2Department of Livestock Products Technology, College of Veterinary Science, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, Punjab 141004, India
3Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
4Halal Products Research Institute, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Putra Infoport, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
5Department of Veterinary Preclinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia
6Department of Companion Animal Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universiti Putra Malaysia, 43400 UPM Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia |
Correspondence:
Awis Qurni Sazili, Tel: +60-126545411, Email: awis@upm.edu.my
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Received: 28 January 2024 • Revised: 3 April 2024 • Accepted: 15 April 2024 |
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| Abstract |
Objective
The livestock handler attitude and their handling of animals is crucial for improving animal welfare standards, minimizing stress, improving productivity and meat quality. The present study was undertaken to assess the effect of training livestock handlers on behavioral, physiological, and hormonal responses during preslaughter handling in goats.
Methods
A total of 6 handlers were divided into trained (trained in basic animal handling practices, animal behavior, and animal welfare), contact trained (not trained directly but interacted and saw the working of trained handlers), and untrained groups (no formal training). The handling experiment was conducted on 18 male goats by following a crossover design. The goats were moved from lairage to slaughter point by trained, contact-trained, and untrained handlers. Various behavioral, physiological, and hormonal parameters were recorded at the lairage before handling and at the slaughter point after handling the goats.
Results
The training of livestock handlers had a significant effect on behavioral, physiological, and hormonal responses in goats. The goats handled by untrained and contacttrained handlers were recorded with intense vocalization, significant (p<0.05) increase in heart rate and blood glucose, and catecholamines (adrenaline and nor-adrenaline), thereby indicating stress and poor animal welfare. The trained handlers were observed to use visual interactions (waving of hands or objects, blocking, hand raising, etc), and lower stress responses were recorded in the goats handled by this group.
Conclusion
The present study highlights the importance of training to livestock handlers in improving animal welfare and minimizing stress in goats during pre-slaughter stress. |
| Keywords:
Animal Handler; Physiological Responses; Preslaughter Handling; Training; Welfare |
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