Assessment of the pre- and post-slaughter welfare of ruminants and ethical practices at slaughter slabs in Bayelsa State, Nigeria   

Year: 2025

Goodness Olalere 
University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Supervisor: Dr Boma Iriso, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria

HSA Student/Trainee Scholarship 2025

Ruminants (cattle, sheep and goats) command a prominent position in the meat supply value chain in Nigeria. But abattoir operations in many developing countries like Nigeria are more concerned about maximizing profits with little or no regard for the welfare of animals, product quality, or safety. This has led to the proliferation of pockets of unregistered abattoirs in and around the State of Bayelsa in Nigeria. A study of pre- and post- slaughter of animals and other handling practices will be conducted at slaughter slabs in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. During slaughter slabs visits, the questionnaire will capture respondent demographics, knowledge of animal welfare, perceptions of cruelty to animals, and attitudes towards animal stunning and slaughter. Data from each cattle, sheep and goat presented for slaughter will include: arrival time, breed of animal, sex, means of transporting the animal to the abattoir, restraining method, the slaughter method employed (piercing or open), time of slaughter, time of processing and type of processing method employed (singing/scalding). Data collected will be analysed using simple descriptive statistics to assess the demographic characteristics of the respondents, as well as their knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of animal welfare.