HSA Conference - 21 - 22 October 2025
Animal Welfare Beyond the Farm Gate: Latest developments in humane slaughter and transport of animals
Location: Thinktank Birmingham Science Museum and online
Save the date for our two-day, hybrid conference dedicated to advancing and promoting animal welfare during transport, slaughter and killing. The HSA Conference 2025 will bring together professionals, researchers, and advocates from around the world to discuss recent scientific and technological advances, and share information and experiences.
What to expect:
Day One – Applied Focus: A programme focused on the latest developments in legislation and best practice techniques being used by industry. This day will feature both presentations by invited speakers and discussion sessions, covering a wide range of species and topic areas.
Among the presentations will be:
- Anneleen Watteyn (ILVO, Belgium), who will talk about different catching methods for poultry, including upright catching.
- Jeff Lines (Ace Aquatec, UK) who will give an overview of the results, successes, and challenges from a large project funded by the HSA on improving the welfare of finfish at slaughter.
- Dorothy McKeegan (University of Glasgow), who will share insights from a commercial LAPS stunning operation for broilers in Canada, and explore the prospects for broader adoption.
Day Two – Research Focus: A research-driven agenda exploring the latest scientific advancements and novel developments
Presentations will include:
- Jenny Bouwsema (Silsoe Livestock Systems, UK) – Improving the welfare of finfish at slaughter
- Awal Fuseini (AHDB, UK) – Halal slaughter of beef in the UK: a quest to find a welfare-friendly and halal compliant method of slaughter
- Ari Zivotofsky (Gonda Brain Science Center, Israel) – An analysis of the acceptability of the DTS cattle stunning system for use in schechita (kosher slaughter)
- Penny Lawlis (ACER Consulting, Canada) – Applying a one welfare approach to depopulation
- Katharine Fletcher (RVC, UK) – Pathophysiology of penetrating captive bolt gun stunning of horses
Flexible attendance options:
- In-person: Join us in-person for networking and live discussion sessions. Attend both days or choose the day most relevant to you.
- Online: Join online from anywhere in the world for access to all the talks in the two-day programme
Registration
We are offering flexible attendance options for the conference either in-person or online. Please ensure you use the In-person registration form only if you will be attending in-person.
In-person registration rates:
Individual (21 & 22 October) £350
Student (21 & 22 October) £275
Individual (21 October only) £195
Student (21 October only) £150
Individual (22 October only) £195
Student (22 October only) £150
Online
Join online from anywhere in the world for access to all the talks in the two-day programme.
Individual (21 & 22 October) £150
Student (21 & 22 October) £100
Online (delegates from low- and middle-income countries - FREE
To maximise access to the meeting, the fee will be waived for delegates resident in low- and middle-income countries eligible for the Research4Life scheme (Group A and B). Click here for a list of eligible countries. PLEASE CHECK YOUR ELIGIBILITY BEFORE REGISTERING AS INVALID REGISTRATIONS WILL BE REMOVED.
Event timetable
Abstract submission opens: 15 April 2025
Registration opens: 1 May 2025
Abstract submissions deadline: 30 June 2025
Notification of abstract acceptance: 25 July 2025
Online registration opens 4 August 2025
Conference dates: 21-22 October 2025
Bock Industries designs and builds world-class humane, percussive stunning systems for poultry, pigs and fish. We turn research-informed design into field-proven performance
For updates on this event and our other work sign up here. For any questions about this event, please contact events@hsa.org.uk.