Press Release Archive

View or download archive press releases from the HSA

20 November 2018 Technical Information Posters on humane handling of livestock translated into Chinese

In line with the HSA’s objective of raising welfare standards for food animals worldwide, the charity’s simple, but effective, posters on the humane handling and stunning of livestock have now been translated into Chinese.

16 October 2018 Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) opens applications for funding through its awards and scholarships

The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) is inviting applications for a special Travel Award for 2019 and its Student/Trainee Dorothy Sidley Memorial Scholarships.

15 October 2018 Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) invites applications for the 2019 Humane Slaughter Award

The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) is inviting applications for its prestigious 2019 Humane Slaughter Award for significant advances in the humane treatment of farmed livestock during transport, marketing and slaughter.

28 June 2018 Recognition for ground-breaking work to improve the welfare of food animals
Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) announces winner of its 2018 Award

The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) has announced the winner of its 2018 Humane Slaughter Award. The award, which recognises individuals or organisations that have made major scientific advances in the welfare of livestock during slaughter, transport or killing for disease control, has been given to Professor Bo Algers of Sweden in recognition of his exemplary work to improve the welfare of food animals.

28 March 2018 New research aims to find a more humane way to stun pigs
Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) joins forces with Defra to fund key research

The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) has jointly funded with the Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) a new two year programme of research to determine whether Low Atmospheric Pressure Stunning (LAPS) might be a more humane way to stun pigs during commercial slaughter.

13 March 2018 HSA announces £1.7 million funding for research and development to improve the welfare of fish, crustaceans and cephalopods at slaughter
Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) supports research to better understand and improve the welfare of these species at slaughter

The Humane Slaughter Association has announced up to £1.7 million of research funding to improve the welfare of farmed fish, crustaceans (eg crabs and lobsters) and cephalopods (eg octopus, cuttlefish and squid) during slaughter.

28 February 2018 Monitoring animal welfare at slaughter - new CCTV legislation
Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) to hold one day seminar ahead of new legislation coming into force

As legislation to make CCTV cameras mandatory in slaughterhouses in England to safeguard animal welfare starts its journey through Parliament, plans for the Humane Slaughter Association’s (HSA) seminar for the meat and livestock industry to discuss the animal welfare implications of the implementation and use of CCTV in abattoirs gathers pace.

9 February 2018 Monitoring animal welfare at slaughter - CCTV and beyond
Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) to hold one day seminar in May

The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) will be holding a one-day seminar on Wednesday 9^th May 2018 for the meat and livestock industry to discuss the animal welfare implications of the implementation and use of CCTV and other technology in abattoirs.

16 January 2018 Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) develops new online guide for humane killing during disease control

As part of its strategy to promote the highest standards of welfare worldwide for food animals, the Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) has produced a new online guide which covers the humane killing of livestock during disease control operations.

22 September 2017 HSA to undertake livestock market survey to evaluate animal welfare provisions in place

Survey marks 200th anniversary of first purpose-built livestock market

200 years ago this year an important milestone in the history of the UK’s meat and livestock industry was made, with the opening of the first purpose built livestock market in Hawick, Scotland.

11 July 2017 HSA commits to new research and development to improve the welfare of pigs at slaughter

Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) joins forces with Defra to fund research into a more humane stunning method for pigs
The Humane Slaughter Association and the Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) are jointly offering up to £400,000 of research funding for a project to develop a more humane way to stun pigs during commercial slaughter.

28 June 2017 Recognition for pioneering work to improve the welfare of food animals

The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) has announced the joint winners of its 2017 Humane Slaughter Award. The award, which recognises individuals or organisations that have made major scientific advances in the welfare of livestock during slaughter, transport or killing for disease control, has been given to Mr Peter Kettlewell and Professor Malcolm Mitchell of Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) in recognition of the developments they have made in improving the welfare of food animals during transportation.

24 March 2017 Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) funds project to assess CCTV in slaughterhouses

The HSA is pleased to announce that it has made a grant award to Ellie Wigham, a PhD student at the University of Bristol for her project “Analysis of the use of CCTV data to monitor and improve slaughter plant welfare in the US – what can we learn from our American friends?”

8 February 2017 Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) develops new online training resource

The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) has produced a model syllabus on animal welfare at slaughter, which references HSA publications and training materials.

10 November 2016 Seminar on Welfare of Animals at the Time Of Killing (WATOK) Regulations

On the 12th of October some 100 people involved in the slaughter industry attended the HSA WATOK One-Year-On seminar held in the East Midlands. Delegates came from across the UK to discuss the challenges faced since the new Welfare at the Time Of Killing (WATOK) regulations were introduced in England in November 2015.

8 July 2016 Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) announces 2016 Award Winner

The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) has announced the winner of its 2016 Humane Slaughter Award. The award, which recognises individuals or organisations that have made major scientific advances in the welfare of livestock during slaughter, transport or killing for disease control, has been given to Professor Neville Gregory in recognition of the developments and technological developments he has made over 37 years which have led to significant and considerable advances in humane slaughter.

22 April 2016 HSA assists Chinese vets with poultry welfare

Following a presentation on the welfare of poultry at slaughter to the 5^th Chinese Veterinary Conference, the HSA was asked by the editor of China Animal Health Inspection - the leading national journal of the Ministry of Agriculture of China - to write a paper for Chinese vets on poultry welfare at slaughter.

21 April 2016 Guidance notes on electrical waterbath stunning of poultry translated into French

The HSA’s Guidance Notes No 7 on Electrical Waterbath Stunning of Poultry are now available in French following a request by the French Ministry of Agriculture, Agrifood and Forestry.

28 October 2015 New guidance from the Humane Slaughter Association (HSA)

A new online technical information poster has been added to the HSA’s series of information and guides to best practice in the handling and slaughter of livestock and poultry. The posters can be used for quick reference in the work place or during training to help ensure best practice.

26 October 2015 HSA online guides now available in Spanish and Chinese

The HSA has long been recognised internationally for being a knowledgeable and practical organisation, with a sound understanding of livestock and livestock handling. Now, as part of its role to promote the highest standards of welfare for food animals during transport, marketing and slaughter, the HSA has had its informative online e-learning series translated into Spanish and Chinese.

4 September 2015 Poultry producers' assistance required

The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) would like to hear from any poultry producers who are dispatching farmed poultry with free-bullet weapons (particularly air-powered) using a head shot to destroy the brain instantaneously.

Whilst the use of free-bullet weapons for humanely killing poultry has not previously been a recommended technique, it might, if reliably successful, provide an alternative humane method for small-scale producers to slaughter poultry for direct supply to local consumers or retailers, or to kill sick/injured birds.

4 September 2015 HSA releases new guidance notes on electrical waterbath stunning of poultry

New publication provides comprehensive guidance for a variety of personnel working with live birds to optimise welfare during waterbath slaughter

As part of its work to promote the highest standards of welfare for food animals during transport, marketing and slaughter, and following ongoing research into bird welfare during electrical waterbath stunning of poultry, the Humane Slaughter Association has published new guidance notes.

18 August 2015 HSA presents award for significant advances in humane slaughter

The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) has presented its 2015 award for significant advances in humane slaughter to the Danish Meat Research Institute (DMRI).

The award, made annually by the HSA, recognises individuals or organisations that have made significant scientific, technical or other advances that have led to improvements in the humane slaughter of livestock. This year’s award was presented to DMRI during the HSA’s international symposium held recently in Zagreb, Croatia.

8 June 2015 HSA announces two Research Training Scholarships

The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) has announced the awarding of two Research Training Scholarships, each for three-year research projects, at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) and the University of Bristol respectively. The research will focus on two important areas for the advancement of humane slaughter of cattle and of turkeys, ducks and geese, with potentially very significant benefits to producers and to animal welfare.

7 May 2015 A signficant step forward for animal welfare: `The changing role of the Animal Welfare Officer in the light of EC Regulation 1099/2009'

The new requirements relating to the appointment, training and certification of Animal Welfare Officers in meat production operations, contained in EU Regulation EC 1099/2009, and soon to be implemented in England, were described as a significant step forward for animal welfare at a recent meeting entitled ‘The changing role of the Animal Welfare Officer in the light of EC Regulation 1099/2009’ organised by the Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) to discuss the requirements and implementation of the legislation.

9 February 2015 HSA announces Programme for International Symposium

The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) has published the full programme of speakers for the upcoming HSA International Symposium being held in Zagreb, Croatia, in July. There will be 31 presentations over the two-day event, covering a wide range of topics relevant to the welfare of food animals during transport, marketing and slaughter or killing.

22 January 2015 Animal Welfare Officer Seminar

A one-day seminar for the meat and livestock industry on “The changing role of the animal welfare officer in the light of EC 1099/2009” is to be held by the Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) on Wednesday 29^th April 2015.

19 January 2015 HSA Dorothy Sidley Scholars present their work

Two of the Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) Dorothy Sidley Memorial Scholars presented their work at the 16^th annual UFAW/HSA Animal Welfare Student Scholars Meeting which took place recently at the University of Newcastle.

14 January 2015 Promoting humane animal handling and slaughter in Liberia

The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) has funded a six-month project in Liberia to promote humane methods of slaughter and handling of animals in markets and during transportation. The project, delivered by the Liberia Animal Welfare and Conservation Society (LAWCS) received funding through the HSA’s Grants Scheme.

6 October 2014 Online guide to humane harvesting of fish

The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) has added a new title to its series of Online Guides freely available to view and download at its website (www.hsa.org.uk).

2 October 2014 HSA invites applications for the 2015 Dorothy Sidley Memorial Scholarships

The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) is now inviting applications for its 2015 Dorothy Sidley Memorial Scholarships.

26 September 2014 On-farm slaughter of poultry training course

The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) is teaching a poultry welfare training course ‘On-farm slaughter of poultry’ at Plumpton College, East Sussex, on 19 November 2014.

24 September 2014 Applications invited for the HSA 2015 Humane Slaughter Award

The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) – an independent charity that works through education, training, research and technical developments towards achieving high standards of welfare for food animals at markets, during transport and at slaughter – is now inviting applications for its prestigious 2015 Humane Slaughter Award for significant advances in the humane slaughter of farmed livestock.

22 September 2014 Humane Slaughter Association invites applications for Animal Welfare Research Training (PhD) Scholarship

The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) is now inviting applications from veterinary or science graduates for its 2015 Research Training Scholarship to enable a three-year programme of research leading to a degree at the doctorate level.

6 August 2014 International Symposium announced by the Humane Slaughter Association

The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) is to hold an International Symposium on recent advances in food animal welfare during transport, marketing and slaughter on the 16^th and 17^th July 2015 in Zagreb, Croatia.

15 July 2014 HSA announces award for significant advances in humane slaughter

The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) has announced the winner of its 2014 award for significant advances in humane slaughter. The award, which recognises individuals or organisations that have made significant scientific, technical or other advances that have led to improvements in the humane slaughter of livestock, has been given to Dr Bert Lambooij DVM of the Animal Science Group, Wageningen University, the Netherlands.

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05 March 2014 Two new online guides from the Humane Slaughter Association

Two new titles, 'Humane Handling of Livestock' and 'Emergency Slaughter', have been added to the HSA’s series of Online Guides to best practice in the handling and slaughter of livestock and poultry.

22 January 2014 Charles Mason receives AMI Award

Charles Mason, Technical Director of the Humane Slaughter Association (HSA), has received the Robin Irish Award from the Association of Meat Inspectors (AMI).

26 November 2013 New DVD addresses animal welfare needs in road traffic accidents

A new training DVD has been produced in conjunction with the Fire and Rescue Service (FRS) intended for emergency personnel responding to road traffic incidents involving farm animal transport vehicles.

18 October 2013 HSA invites applications for the 2014 Dorothy Sidley Memorial Scholarships

The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) is now inviting applications for its 2014 Dorothy Sidley Memorial Scholarships.

14 October 2013 New stunning method may significantly improve animal welfare

A new method for stunning livestock at slaughter may have the potential for significant animal welfare benefits, as well as having operational and economic advantages, concluded a recent workshop convened by the Humane Slaughter Association (HSA).

11 October 2013 Applications invited for the HSA 2014 Humane Slaughter Award

The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) – an independent charity that works through education, training, research and technical developments towards achieving high standards of welfare for food animals at markets, during transport and at slaughter – is now inviting applications for its 2014 Humane Slaughter Award for significant advances in the humane slaughter of farmed livestock.

10 July 2013 HSA announces award for significant advances in humane slaughter

The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) has announced the winner of its 2013 award for significant advances in humane slaughter. The award, which recognises individuals or organisations that have made significant scientific, technical or other advances that have led to improvements in the humane slaughter of livestock, was won by the IRTA/UAB Animal Welfare Research Group, Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries (IRTA) / Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB).

30 April 2013 On-line guide to stunning now available

New on-line guides to ‘Electrical stunning of red meat animals’ and ‘Captive-bolt stunning of livestock’ have been produced by the Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) and are now available for viewing and free download.

11 March 2013 HSA Director awarded Associate Fellowship of Royal Agricultural Societies

Charles Mason, Technical Director of the Humane Slaughter Association (HSA), has been awarded an Associate Fellowship of the Royal Agricultural Societies for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, in recognition of his ‘distinguished achievement in agriculture and land based industries’.

28 January 2013 New on-line guide to the slaughter of poultry

An on-line guide to the humane slaughter of poultry has been produced by the Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) and is now available for viewing and free download on the Association’s website.

24 January 2013 New legislation: the implications for slaughterhouses

New legislation intended to protect the welfare of animals at slaughter came into effect on 1 January 2013. The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) has made freely downloadable information available on its website which describes the key points of the new legislation and the implications for slaughterhouses and knackers’ yards.

5 November 2012 New legislation: the implications for poultry producers

New legislation intended to protect the welfare of animals at the time of their killing comes into effect on 1 January 2013. The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) has produced an information leaflet which summarises the key principles of the new legislation and the implications for producers killing poultry on-farm for commercial purposes (to supply meat either to the final consumer directly or to retailers).

18 October 2012 HSA invites applications for the 2013 Dorothy Sidley Memorial Awards

The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) is now inviting applications for its 2013 Dorothy Sidley Memorial Scholarships.

The Scholarships were established in 1986 as a memorial to the late Dorothy Sidley MBE, who was General Secretary of the HSA for 48 years. They support students and industry trainees undertaking research projects that are aimed at improving the welfare of food animals during transport, in markets or at slaughter.

2 October 2012 Applications invited for the 2013 Humane Slaughter Award

The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) – an independent charity that works through education, training, research and technical developments towards achieving high standards of welfare for food animals at markets, during transport and at slaughter – is now inviting applications for its 2013 Humane Slaughter Award for significant advances in the humane slaughter of farmed livestock.

19 July 2012 HSA announces award for significant advances in humane slaughter

The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) has announced the winner of its 2012 award for significant advances in humane slaughter.

4 October 2011 HSA invites applications for the 2012 Dorothy Sidley Memorial Scholarships

The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) is now inviting applications for its 2012 Dorothy Sidley Memorial Scholarships.

26 September 2011 Applications invited for the HSA 2012 Humane Slaughter Award

The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) – an independent charity that works through education, training, research and technical developments towards achieving high standards of welfare for food animals at markets, during transport and at slaughter – is now inviting applications for its 2012 Humane Slaughter Award for significant advances in the humane slaughter of farmed livestock.

2 September 2011 Poultry stunning training - places available

The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) is teaching a poultry stunning course ‘On-farm slaughter of poultry’ on 18th October 2011 at West Somerset Community College, Minehead.

The course includes a theory element and a practical session which covers restraint, stunning and slaughter of poultry. Participants are assessed and those who are successful will receive a certificate of competence to slaughter poultry using a variety of stunning methods, which may be required for the sale of poultry meat.

12 July 2011 Humane Slaughter Association announces two awards at International Symposium

The two winners of the 2011 Humane Slaughter Award presented by the Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) were announced at the Association’s recent Centenary International Symposium held in Portsmouth.

27 May 2011 HSA awards Centenary Scholarship to develop humane mechanical methods for killing chickens

The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) has awarded its first Research Training Scholarship, commemorating the HSA’s Centenary this year, to Jessica Hopkins of the Scottish Agricultural College (SAC). Jessica will undertake a three-year research programme at doctoral level to address the major welfare problem of the need for a humane method for killing chickens.

25 February 2011 International Symposium to Focus on Advances in the Welfare of Livestock at Slaughter

Plans for the international symposium marking the Centenary of the Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) are well advanced with the meeting set to bring together internationally recognised speakers for the two-day event at the Portsmouth Historic Dockyards, UK on the 30th June and 1st July 2011.

14 January 2011 HSA student scholar battles through snow to present research

Despite hostile weather conditions the annual UFAW/HSA Animal Welfare Student Scholarship meeting, where UFAW Animal Welfare Student Scholars and HSA Dorothy Sidley Memorial Scholars present their work, took place at the University of Glasgow on the 8th December 2010, albeit in truncated form.

7 October 2010 HSA invites applications for the HSA Centenary Humane Slaughter Award

4 October 2010 HSA invites applications for the 2011 Dorothy Sidley Memorial Scholarships

The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) is now inviting applications for its 2011 Dorothy Sidley Memorial Scholarships.

20 September 2010 HSA Introduces New PhD Studentship for Food Animal Welfare

As part of its activities to mark its Centenary in 2011, the Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) is launching an Animal Welfare Research Training Scholarship and is now inviting applications for this award.

The Scholarship will enable a promising veterinary or science graduate to undertake a three-year programme of research leading to a degree at the doctorate level. The research project must have a clear relevance to improving the well-being of farmed food animals in livestock markets, during transport or at the time of slaughter or killing.

16 August 2010 HSA Centenary International Symposium Recent advances in the welfare of livestock at slaughter

The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) has announced an International Symposium on ‘Recent advances in the welfare of livestock at slaughter’ to be held on 30th June and 1st July 2011 at the Historic Dockyard, Portsmouth, UK, and is now seeking contributions and expressions of interest in attending.

3 August 2010 HSA team up with MVP Training on duck welfare

The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) teamed up with MVP Training recently to provide a welfare training course to Cherry Valley Farms Limited, one of the UK’s leading growers and processors of ducks.

27 July 2010 HSA gives advance notice of a research scholarship leading to a degree at the doctorate level

The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) has given advance notice that it intends to offer a Research Training Scholarship later this year. Potential applicants will have time to consider ideas for possible projects over the summer before the award is open for application in autumn 2010.

17 December 2009 Applications invited for the HSA 2010 Humane Slaughter Award

2 November 2009 HSA invites applications for the 2010 Dorothy Sidley Memorial Scholarships

The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) is now inviting applications for its 2010 Dorothy Sidley Memorial Scholarships.

The Scholarships, established in 1986 as a memorial to the late Dorothy Sidley MBE, support student and industry trainee research projects that are aimed at improving the welfare of food animals at slaughter, in markets or during transport. Undergraduate and postgraduate students in agricultural, veterinary or meat sciences, or trainees in the livestock, meat and fish industries in the UK, are eligible, as are students registered at universities outside the UK that have a UFAW/HSA University ‘LINK’ person (see the ufaw website). Each Scholarship is for up to £2,000.

12 October 2009 Humane Slaughter Award winner provides evidence for pain in slaughter without stunning

The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) has presented its inaugural Humane Slaughter Award to Dr Craig Johnson and his colleagues at Massey University, New Zealand, for groundbreaking research investigating pain in cattle slaughtered without prior stunning.

24 September 2009 How many animals are slaughtered in the UK?

The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) is frequently asked this and many other questions by members of the public, those with a working interest in livestock and, with questions of a more technical nature, by the meat processing and retailing industries. As part of its ongoing educational, scientific and technical work to promote high welfare standards in livestock transport, markets and at slaughter, the HSA – an independent registered charity, has now posted a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) section on its website.

28 April 2009 Essential Information for Horse Owners

A new edition of the publication ‘Farewell – making the right decision’, a guide for horse owners on the humane destruction of aged, sick or injured horses, has been produced by the Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) and is available for free download:

27 January 2009 Education and Training Services from the HSA

The comprehensive range of education and training services provided by the Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) are described in a new brochure which is now freely available from the HSA office or by download.

8th December 2008 New Award for Advances in the Humane Slaughter of Livestock launched by the HSA

The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) – an independent charity that works through education, training, research and technical developments towards achieving high standards of welfare for food animals at markets, during transport and at slaughter – has launched a new award to recognize and encourage significant advances in the humane slaughter of farmed livestock. Applications are now invited for the inaugural, 2009, award.

22 October 2008 HSA invites applications for the 2009 Dorothy Sidley Memorial Scholarships

The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) is now inviting applications for its 2009 Dorothy Sidley Memorial Scholarships.

1 September 2008 Humane Handling of Livestock: new publication from the HSA

A new publication in the HSA's Guidance Notes series, `Humane Handling of Livestock' has been produced by the HSA.

4 March 2008 Humane Harvest of Halibut: new publication from the HSA

A new publication in its Technical Note series, ‘Humane Harvesting of Halibut’ has been produced by the Humane Slaughter Association (HSA).The new Technical Note draws on the results of several scientific experimental projects on the humane harvesting of sea fish and follows the HSA’s participation in the Defra-funded LINK project on the humane harvesting of halibut. The publication discusses the legislative...

4 March 2008 Slaughter of minority species included in new publications from the HSA

A new Technical Note on the ‘Slaughter and Killing of Minority Farmed Species’ is among several new publications produced recently by the Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) which also include ‘Best Practice Guidelines for the Welfare of Ducks and Geese in Processing Plants’, a Technical Note on ‘Humane Harvesting of Halibut’ and new editions of two HSA Fact Sheets for the general reader on transport of animals and on the history of the HSA. Over recent years significant numbers of livestock farmers have diversified...

26 February 2008 Study highlights best practice in group stunning

A two-year Defra-funded project to determine optimal design and operational parameters for group stunning systems in abattoirs has now been completed by ADAS UK Ltd in collaboration with the Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) and Industrial and Agricultural Engineers Ltd (IAE). Group stunning, in which a group of animals are brought to a stun pen and stunned individually before being bled, is relatively common, particularly in small to medium-sized...

15 October 2007 Advice on transport of animals

Following the implementation earlier this year of the new Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 on the protection of animals during transport and the Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order 2006, the Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) has produced a new series of Technical Notes detailing the requirements for those involved in the transport of livestock, horses, poultry and fish. The EU Council Regulation on the...

08 October 2007 Caring to the End Booklet for smallholders, hobby farmers and those that keep livestock as pets

With growing numbers of people keeping livestock in small numbers, including as pets, the Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) – a registered charity that works for the welfare of farm animals during transport, at markets and at slaughter – is increasingly being asked for advice on what to do or what to expect when the time comes for animals to be put down because of age, illness or injury, when they die of natural causes or need to be killed for a specific purpose...