Assessment of cattle welfare during slaughter and adherence to animal welfare standards across veterinary practical training slaughter facilities in Tanzania

Year: 2026

Agatha Sangwa
Sokoine University, Tanzania

Grant: HSA Student/Trainee Scholarship 2026

This project aims to assess cattle welfare during slaughter and evaluate adherence to established animal welfare standards across veterinary practical training slaughter facilities in Tanzania. Slaughter is one of the most welfare-sensitive stages in livestock production, and failure to apply humane handling, restraint, stunning, and bleeding procedures can result in severe pain, fear, and distress to animals. Inadequate stunning, poor handling practices, improper bleeding, and substandard infrastructure not only compromise animal welfare but also negatively affect meat quality, food safety, occupational safety, and public health.

The study will investigate observable welfare problems at different stages of slaughter, including unloading, lairage, handling and restraint, stunning effectiveness, bleeding efficiency, and hygiene practices. It will also examine operational, infrastructural, and training-related factors that may limit compliance with internationally recognized standards, particularly those outlined by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). Special attention will be given to veterinary training slaughter facilities, as these institutions play a critical role in shaping the practical skills, professional ethics, and animal welfare attitudes of future veterinarians and meat inspectors.

By generating evidence-based data on welfare compliance and identifying gaps within training environments, the project seeks to inform practical interventions to improve slaughter practices. The findings are expected to guide institutional decision-making regarding infrastructure improvements, supervision, and curriculum strengthening, while also supporting enforcement of Tanzania’s Animal Welfare Act (2008). Ultimately, the study aims to reduce unnecessary animal suffering at slaughter, strengthen veterinary education standards, promote humane slaughter practices across the livestock sector, and enhance public confidence in animal-derived food products.