Member profile
Dr. JACOPO GORACCI
Organization:
Tenuta di Paganico Soc. Agr. SpA
Country:
Italy
Field(s) of expertise:
- Agricultural development
- Agricultural techniques
- Climate change
- Food loss and waste
- Food security
- Food systems
- Forestry
- Learning and knowledge management
- Livestock
- Natural resource management
- Plant production
- Policies, strategies and guidelines
- Rural development
- Soil
- Water resources and infrastructure
Dr. JACOPO GORACCI
Introduction
Animal loading, unloading, and transport before slaughtering are important critical points through
the whole process of pigs’ production. Several studies showed that the effect of transport on animal
welfare depends on a combination of stressors. This is even more significant in outdoor systems,
where animals are not used to restraints and being handled. It’s possible to significantly decrease
the suffering and stress level of animals before slaughter by eliminating the transportation phase
(from farm to abattoir) by killing animals directly on the farm.
Key problems addressed
At the beginning of the project, in Europe on-farm slaughter was not allowed as a routine method,
but it was used only for emergencies; thus, more studies to verify its effectiveness as a routine
method were needed. In addition, in Italy there were neither a procedure validated by the Official
Veterinary Services for slaughtering pigs on-farm, nor a viable system for catching and transport
animals to the slaughterhouse.
Technological or innovative solutions employed
Pigs are stunned directly on the farm, in a properly sized and controlled facility, by a worker -
trained in accordance with Council Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009 - using a captive bolt gun that
produces an immediate state of irreversible unconsciousness. The animal’s body is then loaded into
the prototype trailer, a mobile transport structure using a winch and drained by cutting the major
arteries and veins (carotid, jugular, brachiocephalic trunk). The trailer includes a small room with a
hot-water sink to facilitate washing for the worker and the tools being used. Effluent (blood and
urine) is collected within the structure in a special tank so that it can be transported and disposed of
at the slaughterhouse. After the closure of the mobile structure, the worker, depending on the
season, can switch on the trailer’s internal air conditioning and then reach the local slaughterhouse
within two hours. Here the veterinary service can carry out all the necessary checks on the animal
and ensure that health and safety regulations are being complied with.
Key outcomes and measurable impacts achieved
We demonstrate that the kind of slaughter procedure tested does not negatively affect meat safety
and meat quality (technological and physical characteristics). On the contrary, on-farm slaughtering
procedures seemed to significantly decrease serum cortisol, a suitable stress biomarker, respect to
standard procedure (live animals transport): that data suggests that the innovative procedure was
effective in reducing animals’ stress in slaughtering procedure, without getting worse the meat
safety and quality. This led the Official Veterinary Service to upgrade a temporary on-farm
slaughtering permit tied to project finalization, into a permanent license for the overall swine sector,
setting a precedent with significant positive repercussions.
Key actors and stakeholders involved in the development and implementation
Many Italian farms that have also started on-farm animal slaughtering projects were also involved
in the dissemination activities, creating inspiring workshops. After the end of the project, we were
contacted and visited by other farmers interested in developing similar slaughtering systems in
their regions, especially from rural and mountain settings. Today, we are looking for other farmers
interested to test our slaughtering method in our area, in order to share our experience and to
employ the trailer in other realities besides our own.
Challenges encountered and efficiencies gained
Factors for success
The project “Tuscan Maremma pasture-based Cinta senese crossbreeds: meat quality and animal welfare” was granted by Measure 16.2 “Support for pilot projects and the development of new products, practices, processes and technologies,” of the F.A.R. Maremma within the 2014/2020 Rural Development Plan of Tuscany Region (LEADER method), with 90% subsidy. The project took advantage of the active partnership both Official Veterinary Service and Department of Agriculture, Food and Environment of Pisa University. The project was driven by the determination and stubbornness of the farm’s team.
Lessons learned
Lessons can be summarized as follows: a) changing the routine of a procedure involves the investment of a lot of effort and time, along with the creation of a team of active and determined partners; b) bureaucracy burden often risks hindering innovation processes at farm level; c) funding is essential to support a farm-wide change and innovation transfer process; d) one farm's winning idea can be a driving force for a much larger area, raising the level of animal welfare even in the last links of the breeding chain; e) the law can follow the results of science, going beyond the limits that habit often indicates as insuperable.
Links and additional materials
Project quoted by:
Contact information
Jacopo Goracci – [email protected] – [email protected]