Programme

General information for those registered to attend the HSA International Symposium can be downloaded here: General Information

The Symposium will take place over two days at the Hotel Dubrovnik, central Zagreb. The symposium is being held to present and discuss recent scientific and technological advances, and the application and uptake of these advances around the world, for the improvement of food animal welfare during transport, marketing, slaughter or killing. The event will also be an opportunity to help identify future priorities and to provide a forum for sharing information and experiences.

The deadline for submission of abstracts for oral presentations has now passed, however, we are still inviting abstracts from those interested in contributing to the symposium with a poster. Full details can be found here.

Refreshment breaks and lunch will be provided at the Hotel Dubrovnik on both days. A drinks reception has been arranged for the evening of Thursday 16^th July at Restoran Vinodol, a short walk from the symposium venue, starting from 19:00.

The Symposium will start at 09:00 on the 16th July 2015 and end by 17:15 on the 17th July 2015. Links to download the full timetables can now be found below.

Keynote Speakers

Keynote speakers confirmed for the HSA International Symposium 2015 are:

HRH Princess Alia Al Hussein 

We are honoured that HRH Princess Alia Al Hussein will speak at the symposium, presenting the work of the Princess Alia Foundation to improve animal welfare at slaughter in Jordan, including promotion of pre-slaughter stunning.  

Prof Yvonne Vizzier Thaxton Professor and Director of the Center for Food Animal Wellbeing at the University of Arkansas: 

From Idea to Reality: The Development of the Low Atmosphere Stunning System;

Dr Mara Miele Reader at the Cardiff School of Planning and Geography: 

Making slaughter of livestock acceptable to the consumer: how science, technology and religion affect the public debate about slaughtering practices;

Mr Tozie Zokufa Program Manager for Africa at Humane Society International and Chairman of PAAWA: 

Humane Slaughter: Is Africa there yet? Challenges and Opportunities;

Dr Denis Simonin Animal Welfare Unit at the European Commission: 

The European Commission’s work to improve food animal welfare at slaughter.

Keynote Speaker Biographies

 Download the Abstract Booklet

Other Confirmed Speakers

Anthony Akunzule (Veterinary Services Directorate, Ghana) Review of the transportation system affecting animal welfare during transport of live animals to slaughterhouses in Ghana

Vasco Antunes (European Food and Veterinary Office, Ireland) Outcome of audits of EU Member States on animal welfare controls at slaughter

Sophie Atkinson (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden) A study of aversion and stun quality in pigs stunned in a gas mixture of 80% N2 and 20% CO2 compared to 90% CO2 during commercial slaughter

Charlotte Berg (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Sweden) Animal welfare at slaughter – A social learning process

Pia Brandt (Danish Meat Research Institute, Denmark) Documentation of welfare of finishing pigs on the day of slaughter

Antoni Dalmau (IRTA, Spain) Use of carbon dioxide to stun rabbits

Rebecca Garcia (DEFRA, UK) Evidence-based policy on welfare at slaughter –Latest regulatory changes, gaps and advances

Eloy Gonzales-Gustavson (IVITA, Peru) An evaluation of the humanness of stunning and slaughter methods used in Guinea pigs (Cavia porcelus) for the Andean region

Phil Hadley (EBLEX AHDB, UK) A comparison of handling methods relevant to the religious slaughter of sheep

Karen von Holleben (bsi Scwarzenbek, Germany) Evaluation of cattle head fixation for captive bolt stunning under practical conditions – How tight and how fast?

Käthe Kittelsen (Norwegian Meat and Poultry Research Centre, Norway) Wing fractures in broilers, observed at two Norwegian abattoirs

Georgina Limon (Royal Veterinary College, UK) Effect of neck cut position on time to collapse in Halal slaughtered cattle

Georgina Limon (Royal Veterinary College, UK) Pathophysiology of captive-bolt stunning in alpacas (Vicugna pacos)

Jessica Martin (SRUC, UK) Evaluation of electroencephalogram responses of chickens killed using three mechanical devices

Claudia Meier (bsi Schwarzenbek, Germany) Evaluation of the Meyn multistage CO2 stunning system for chicken with regard to animal welfare under practical conditions

Suzanne Millman (Iowa State University, USA) Assessment of aversion to different concentrations of CO2 by weaned pigs and neonatal goats

Malcolm Mitchell (SRUC, UK) The effects of journey time upon the welfare of pigs in transit: A study under commercial transport conditions

Simon Parotat (bsi Schwarzenbek, Germany) Pig slaughter: Detecting signs of life prior to scalding by means of optical flow

Miroslav Radeski (Ss. Cyril and Methodius University of Skopje, Macedonia) Absence of stress in sheep while witnessing the slaughtering process

Alison Small (CSIRO, Australia) DTS: Diathermic syncope for cattle stunning

Mhairi Sutherland (Ruakara Research Centre, New Zealand) Evaluation of a non-penetrating captive bolt to euthanase neonatal goat kids

Antonio Velarde (IRTA, Spain) Electrical stunning effectiveness with current levels lower than 1A in lambs and kid goats

Merel Verhoeven (Wageningen University, The Netherlands) Validation of indicators used to assess unconsciousness in cattle at slaughter

Hans van de Vis (IMARES, The Netherlands) An approach to implement stunning and killing of fish

Martin von Wenzlawowicz (bsi Schwarzenbek, Germany) Risk factors for the use of a rifle for stunning/killing of cattle

Steve Wotton (University of Bristol, UK) EC Regulation 1099/2009: Stunning current on cardiac arrest in Halal sheep 

Download Speaker Timetable

Confirmed Posters 

Johannes Bergsma (Meyn Food Processing Technology, The Netherlands) Improving animal welfare: Automated monitoring of foot pad lesions

Marc Cooper (RSPCA, UK) Automated assessment of key welfare parameters at the time of killing to better understand on-farm conditions for broilers

John Cranley (AWSELVA, UK) Risks of sensibility type behaviour during slaughter with and without stunning in Britain

Kirstin Dahl-Pedersen (Aarhus University, Denmark) Study design and selection of relevant measures for assessment of fitness for transport of dairy cows

Maurizio Ferri (Italian Veterinary Service, Italy) Monitoring of animal welfare at slaughter – study results of indicators’ use at a bovine slaughterhouse

Katrine Fogsgaard (University of Aarhus, Denmark) Are sows sent for slaughter fit for transport?

Leonie Jacobs (ILVO, Belgium) Effect of transport duration and broiler breeding age on day-old chick welfare and performance

Marlene Kirchner (University of Copenhagen, Denmark) How to assess fitness for transport of Danish broiler chickens

Helle Daugaard Larsen (DMRI, Denmark) Video surveillance of CO2-stunning of finishing pigs in groups

Renata Leuschner (EFSA, Italy) The EFSA approach to assessing proposals for new stunning methods

John Lever (University of Huddersfield, UK) Farm animal welfare and corporate social responsibility: Making slaughter visible? 

Nikki Mackie (University of Bristol, UK) Behavioural responses of broiler chickens during Low Atmospheric Pressure Stunning

Gustavo María (University of Zaragoza, Spain) Effect of long term transportation on sheep productive traits, behaviour and welfare

Gustavo María (Univerity of Zaragoza, Spain) Social perception of animal welfare in Argentina

Suzanne Millman (Iowa State University, USA) An animal welfare assessment of swine marketed through buying stations in the United States

Suzanne Millman (Iowa State University, USA) Assessment of aversion to different concentrations of CO2 gas by weaned pigs using an approach-avoidance paradigm

Suzanne Millman (Iowa State University, USA) Tolerance of carbon dioxide gas by neonatal goats

Luc Mirabito (Institut de l'Elevage, France) Promoting and implementing high standards of animal welfare: An example in French cattle slaughterhouses

Carla Molento (Federal University of Parana, Brazil) Perceptions of animal welfare issues applied to fish by Latin American citizens (Preliminary results)

Simone Pauling (Marel Stork Poultry Processing, The Netherlands) 20 years of experience in carbon dioxide stunning of poultry: Proven scientific knowledge and additional insights

Avraham Pinkas (Hai-Meshek – Isreali Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Farm Animals, Israel) Killing spent laying hens on farm, in 1 second 

Johanna Probst (Research Institute of Organic Agriculture, Switzerland) Relationship between stress-related physiological exsanguination blood variables, vocalisation, and stressors at a conventional abattoir

Kristin Pufpaff (Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America, USA) Target areas for animal welfare improvement within a religious context

Jon Ratcliffe (Moulton College, UK) Causes of livestock vehicle accidents in the UK and the consequences for the animals involved

Fiona Roberts (Integra Food Secure, UK) Observations on the understanding and implementation of EC Regulation 1099/2009: Analysis from farm, factory and hatchery audit of the global poultry supply chain for a major UK retailer

Janet Talling (Animal and Plant Health Agency, UK) Extended journey lengths (11 days) in high specification lorries does not further compromise pig welfare

Wouter Veerkamp (Meyn Food Processing Technology, The Netherlands) Improving animal welfare: CAS stunning before tilting

Jessica Walsh (University of Guelph, Canada) Evaluation of producer attitudes regarding on-farm euthanasia methods for commercial meat rabbits

Hannah Westen (World Horse Welfare, UK) Transport of equine animals for slaughter: New guidelines on watering and fitness for transport 

Download Poster Sessions Timetable

This conference has been organised with the assistance of Dr Mario Ostović of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Zagreb. The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Zagreb was founded in 1919, and University of Zagreb in 1669, and is the oldest and biggest university in South-Eastern Europe.