Dec 12, 2024 05:49 PM
https://www.sciencenorway.no/animal-welf...ls/2432973
EXCERPTS: Many of the salmon that survive life in the pens are so sick they cannot endure the trip to the slaughterhouse. "Farmers have discovered that it's better to slaughter salmon directly in the pens to prevent the high mortality rates during transportation to land," says veterinarian and fish health researcher Trygve Poppe.
[...] A third of salmon cannot be sold whole. These are fish with wounds and injuries. "They need to be filleted and trimmed, with the damaged parts removed," explains Poppe. The salmon meat then ends up in stores as skinless fillets or salmon burgers.
The livestock on land also become ill. Whether the health of cows, sheep, pigs, and chickens is good or poor depends on perspective and what factors are considered...
[...] "Other infectious diseases that the public sector can't prioritise must be managed by the industry itself," says Synnøve Vatn. This also applies to what are called production diseases. Animals get these diseases because they live in crowded or poor conditions, or because their living environment does not align with their natural behaviour.
[...] Chickens grow very quickly. Within a month, they become large and heavy. Many of them develop heart failure and leg problems because the development of their hearts, tendons, and skeletons cannot keep pace with their rapid growth, according to the Veterinary Institute (link in Norwegian). One in four chicken has moderate or severe gait abnormalities, according to a Norwegian study.
Burn injuries are a problem for chicks and hens. They urinate and defecate in the litter they stand on. This leads to wet litter with ammonia, which can cause sores on their feet and chests. Chickens are now checked at slaughterhouses for such burns before being slaughtered. If many burns are found, the farmer receives less payment. This has resulted in fewer burn injuries.
Many laying hens suffer internal fractures. This can be due to breeding practices aimed at producing the largest possible eggs, according to Danish researchers who examined 4,800 hens internally. A total of 4,100 of them had fractures in the keel bone, which is located in the chest and is essential for flapping, breathing, and egg-laying. The fractures cause pain when the birds move, as shown in a British study.
Many believe that chicks and hens have too little space and too little to do. This leads to pecking, bullying, and general discomfort.
[...] It is not uncommon for dairy cows to suffer from udder inflammation. They also experience infections in the respiratory system, stomach, and intestines. Ringworm is a problem in some places... Sheep and goats also suffer from udder inflammation. Infections in the vagina and fallopian tubes are an issue for some sheep, while others experience difficult births.
[...] They found pigs that had not received adequate treatment when sick. They found wounds on tails and rumps, indicating that the pigs' environment was not good enough. They also found many limping pigs.
[...] "We live with a risk of new pathogens entering in various ways. We travel more than before, and more people are coming to Norway. Recently, we experienced the virus that causes bluetongue disease, which affects cattle and sheep, blowing over the Skagerrak with insects," she says.
The farmer’s economy and time with their animals pose challenges. "Money, or rather the lack of money, is a significant challenge for farmers because it means they often have to take additional jobs outside the farm to make a living. This can affect the time they have available to care for their livestock. This doesn't mean they're doing a poor job, but it's part of the overall picture," says Vatn.
"We need to support farmers, and they must be paid for the work they do," she says.... (MORE - missing details)
EXCERPTS: Many of the salmon that survive life in the pens are so sick they cannot endure the trip to the slaughterhouse. "Farmers have discovered that it's better to slaughter salmon directly in the pens to prevent the high mortality rates during transportation to land," says veterinarian and fish health researcher Trygve Poppe.
[...] A third of salmon cannot be sold whole. These are fish with wounds and injuries. "They need to be filleted and trimmed, with the damaged parts removed," explains Poppe. The salmon meat then ends up in stores as skinless fillets or salmon burgers.
The livestock on land also become ill. Whether the health of cows, sheep, pigs, and chickens is good or poor depends on perspective and what factors are considered...
[...] "Other infectious diseases that the public sector can't prioritise must be managed by the industry itself," says Synnøve Vatn. This also applies to what are called production diseases. Animals get these diseases because they live in crowded or poor conditions, or because their living environment does not align with their natural behaviour.
[...] Chickens grow very quickly. Within a month, they become large and heavy. Many of them develop heart failure and leg problems because the development of their hearts, tendons, and skeletons cannot keep pace with their rapid growth, according to the Veterinary Institute (link in Norwegian). One in four chicken has moderate or severe gait abnormalities, according to a Norwegian study.
Burn injuries are a problem for chicks and hens. They urinate and defecate in the litter they stand on. This leads to wet litter with ammonia, which can cause sores on their feet and chests. Chickens are now checked at slaughterhouses for such burns before being slaughtered. If many burns are found, the farmer receives less payment. This has resulted in fewer burn injuries.
Many laying hens suffer internal fractures. This can be due to breeding practices aimed at producing the largest possible eggs, according to Danish researchers who examined 4,800 hens internally. A total of 4,100 of them had fractures in the keel bone, which is located in the chest and is essential for flapping, breathing, and egg-laying. The fractures cause pain when the birds move, as shown in a British study.
Many believe that chicks and hens have too little space and too little to do. This leads to pecking, bullying, and general discomfort.
[...] It is not uncommon for dairy cows to suffer from udder inflammation. They also experience infections in the respiratory system, stomach, and intestines. Ringworm is a problem in some places... Sheep and goats also suffer from udder inflammation. Infections in the vagina and fallopian tubes are an issue for some sheep, while others experience difficult births.
[...] They found pigs that had not received adequate treatment when sick. They found wounds on tails and rumps, indicating that the pigs' environment was not good enough. They also found many limping pigs.
[...] "We live with a risk of new pathogens entering in various ways. We travel more than before, and more people are coming to Norway. Recently, we experienced the virus that causes bluetongue disease, which affects cattle and sheep, blowing over the Skagerrak with insects," she says.
The farmer’s economy and time with their animals pose challenges. "Money, or rather the lack of money, is a significant challenge for farmers because it means they often have to take additional jobs outside the farm to make a living. This can affect the time they have available to care for their livestock. This doesn't mean they're doing a poor job, but it's part of the overall picture," says Vatn.
"We need to support farmers, and they must be paid for the work they do," she says.... (MORE - missing details)