Characterization of the ante-mortem transportation, capture chase and waiting time of indigenous chicken reared under traditional system in Benin
Abstract
Understand animal pre-slaughter conditions, is very important to prevent stress and its subsequent detrimental effects on meat quality. The current study aims to clear up the ante-mortem transportation, capture chase and waiting time conditions of local chicken. A survey was carried out on 50 poultry traders or sellers and 50 breeders in the townships of Abomey-Calavi, Allada, Zè, Toffo and Ouidah. Data on the process of these factors and on birds handling were collected. The survey revealed that from a township to the other, conditions are almost similar. Chickens were transported mainly in the morning by car, motorcycle and bicycle or simply by tradesmen walking on a distance of 7.10 to 59.72 km during 33 to 169 minutes. During the transportation, they were put in cages, in baskets or simply attached in clusters and hung up to a support. The two legs of each bird were tied together and they were feed and watered before the transportation or on arrival by some. Cases of accident, disease and mortality occurred. The capture chase took place every time outdoor or in a fence in Abomey-Calavi and outdoor, in a fence or in a house in the other localities and involved 1 to 3 persons. It lasted 8 to 19.1 minutes. Chickens caught were immediately slaughtered or put in cages or under baskets before. During the waiting time, feed withdrawal is not observed. Globally, the ante-mortem conditions of local chicken in these localities didn’t respect animal welfare and could produce stress.
Introduction
Animal welfare is a preoccupying condition in the sectors of breeding and of meat production. In several countries in the world, the subject benefits of laws and regulations which are to be respected from production to animal slaughter in order to guarantee first quietude and animal life and second consumers’ expectations. For example, the French law called "nature" of July 10, 1976 stipulates that "all animal being a sensitive being must be placed by its owner in compatible conditions with the biological imperatives of its species. Also, according to the articles 214-1 and 214-3 of the French Rural Code, it is prohibited to exercise some "bad treatments towards breeding animal as well as towards tamed wild animals or held in captivity" and necessary to avoid them "some sufferings during handling related to breeding techniques, penning, transportation and slaughter" (Versier et al., 2007).
Besides, the factors that compromise animal’s welfare in several countries are known and their influences on production parameters and meat quality are determined. For instance, among the ante-mortem factors that influence meat quality, are the catching and the loading chickens in cages, the putting them in transportation vehicle, the transportation itself and climate conditions from inside and outside as well as the time of destination (Radu et al., 2012). Moreover, research is already focusing on how to control carcass and meat quality changings due to pre-slaughter factors across America, Europe, Asia and North Africa (González et al., 2007; Perai et al., 2014; Zhang et al., 2014). Meanwhile the ante-mortem conditions of the breeding animals are unknown in West Africa in general and in Benin particular.
This study aims to clarify the ante-mortem transportation, capture chase and the waiting time conditions of the local chicken of traditional system of Benin in order to lunch impacts studies and the local legal dispositions thinking on the welfare of these birds.
Source : Characterization of the ante-mortem transportation, capture chase and waiting time of indigenous chicken reared under traditional system in Benin
