Optimal Flow-A Pilot Study Balancing Sheep Movement and Welfare in Abattoirs

Area of Science:

• Animal Science
• Agricultural Engineering
• Animal Welfare

Background:

• Abattoirs face challenges balancing efficient livestock throughput with animal welfare.
• Abattoir design and limited research complicate achieving optimal outcomes for both speed and welfare.
• The concept of 'Optimal Flow' seeks to reconcile maximizing movement rate with minimizing animal distress.

Purpose of the Study:

• To apply the 'Optimal Flow' concept in a real-world abattoir setting.
• To identify factors influencing sheep movement rate and distress behaviors.
• To determine conditions for maximizing throughput while ensuring good animal welfare.

Main Methods:

• A pilot study observed human-animal interactions involving humans, livestock herding dogs, and sheep.
• Behavioral data from 3235 sheep in a large Australian abattoir were analyzed.
• Factors associated with changes in sheep movement rate per minute were quantified.

Main Results:

• Distress behaviors in sheep were linked to the presence of herding dogs and decreased movement rates.
• Increased sheep density correlated with higher movement rates but also elevated distress.
• Optimal Flow was achieved by maintaining lower sheep densities within the abattoir.

Conclusions:

• Lower sheep density is crucial for optimizing both movement efficiency and animal welfare in abattoirs.
• Herding dog presence may negatively impact sheep welfare and movement.
• Further research is needed to explore confounding factors influencing these results.