Grants and Awards available from the HSA

Dorothy Sidley Award
Established in 1986 as a memorial to the late Miss Dorothy Sidley, General Secretary to the HSA for 48 years, the award of up to £2,000 (can split into more than one project) enables students or trainees in the industry to carry out a project which is clearly aimed at improving the welfare of food animals in markets, during transport or at slaughter. The work may be carried out as an integral part of the student's coursework over an academic year. On completion, a full report must be submitted to the HSA. Click here for more information on the award.

HOW TO APPLY: Applications for the 2008 award are now CLOSED.

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Research and other Grants
The HSA provides, when funds are available, grants for research, educational or other projects focused on improving the welfare of livestock animals at marketing, transport, slaughter or killing. Recent examples of HSA-funded projects include:

• The development of an alternative device for killing casualty poultry on-farm
  (Work carried out by Bristol University; funded by HSA, MAFF and the British Turkey Federation)

• Improved pig handling systems for pigs at slaughter
  (Work carried out by Cambac JMA Research; funded by HSA, MAFF, Meat and Livestock Commission and several pig processors)

• Is there a need for water in markets?
  (Work carried out by Cambac JMA Research; funded by HSA, MAFF and the Livestock Auctioneers Association)

• Automated humane slaughter of trout
  (Work carried out by Silsoe Research Institute and Bristol University; funded by HSA, MAFF, British Trout Association and a number of major retailers)

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Poultry Catching Award
In 2005, the HSA has initiated a new award to help promote the welfare of poultry species during catching for slaughter. Moving poultry from the farm to the processing plant for slaughter involves all birds being caught and loaded into containers before being transported. The award will be given to the poultry plant or independent catching team which is judged to have made the greatest improvement to animal welfare in one of the following ways:

• best catching training programme

• best catching protocol

• best innovative equipment/system to improve catching of one or more poultry species

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Market Award
Livestock markets are invited to apply for a £2,000 Animal Welfare Development Grant which will help to fund either the upgrading of existing premises or the building of new market facilities. The Award will be made by the Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) to the project judged to make the greatest improvement to animal welfare.
Previous grants have being awarded to the following markets:

• 2003 Dingwall - New unloading facilities for sheep.
• 2002 Honiton - Building of a new cattle race
• 2002 Devils Bridge - Improvements to sheep penning and sale ring
• 2000 Castle Douglas - Improvements to cattle and sheep lairage
• 1999 Holsworthy - Improved cattle handling facilities - abreast milking parlour
• 1998 Hay-on-Wye - Installation of water troughs
• 1997 Maidstone - Improvements to cattle race

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