Recent Press Releases

View or download the latest press releases from the HSA

22 September 2017 HSA to undertake livestock market survey to evaluate animal welfare provisions in place

Survey marks 200th anniversary of first purpose-built livestock market

200 years ago this year an important milestone in the history of the UK’s meat and livestock industry was made, with the opening of the first purpose built livestock market in Hawick, Scotland.

11 July 2017 HSA commits to new research and development to improve the welfare of pigs at slaughter

Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) joins forces with Defra to fund research into a more humane stunning method for pigs
The Humane Slaughter Association and the Department for Environment Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) are jointly offering up to £400,000 of research funding for a project to develop a more humane way to stun pigs during commercial slaughter.

28 June 2017 Recognition for pioneering work to improve the welfare of food animals

The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) has announced the joint winners of its 2017 Humane Slaughter Award. The award, which recognises individuals or organisations that have made major scientific advances in the welfare of livestock during slaughter, transport or killing for disease control, has been given to Mr Peter Kettlewell and Professor Malcolm Mitchell of Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) in recognition of the developments they have made in improving the welfare of food animals during transportation.

24 March 2017 Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) funds project to assess CCTV in slaughterhouses

The HSA is pleased to announce that it has made a grant award to Ellie Wigham, a PhD student at the University of Bristol for her project “Analysis of the use of CCTV data to monitor and improve slaughter plant welfare in the US – what can we learn from our American friends?”

8 February 2017 Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) develops new online training resource

The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) has produced a model syllabus on animal welfare at slaughter, which references HSA publications and training materials.

10 November 2016 Seminar on Welfare of Animals at the Time Of Killing (WATOK) Regulations

On the 12th of October some 100 people involved in the slaughter industry attended the HSA WATOK One-Year-On seminar held in the East Midlands. Delegates came from across the UK to discuss the challenges faced since the new Welfare at the Time Of Killing (WATOK) regulations were introduced in England in November 2015.

8 July 2016 Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) announces 2016 Award Winner

The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) has announced the winner of its 2016 Humane Slaughter Award. The award, which recognises individuals or organisations that have made major scientific advances in the welfare of livestock during slaughter, transport or killing for disease control, has been given to Professor Neville Gregory in recognition of the developments and technological developments he has made over 37 years which have led to significant and considerable advances in humane slaughter.

22 April 2016 HSA assists Chinese vets with poultry welfare

Following a presentation on the welfare of poultry at slaughter to the 5^th Chinese Veterinary Conference, the HSA was asked by the editor of China Animal Health Inspection - the leading national journal of the Ministry of Agriculture of China - to write a paper for Chinese vets on poultry welfare at slaughter.

21 April 2016 Guidance notes on electrical waterbath stunning of poultry translated into French

The HSA’s Guidance Notes No 7 on Electrical Waterbath Stunning of Poultry are now available in French following a request by the French Ministry of Agriculture, Agrifood and Forestry.

28 October 2015 New guidance from the Humane Slaughter Association (HSA)

A new online technical information poster has been added to the HSA’s series of information and guides to best practice in the handling and slaughter of livestock and poultry. The posters can be used for quick reference in the work place or during training to help ensure best practice.

26 October 2015 HSA online guides now available in Spanish and Chinese

The HSA has long been recognised internationally for being a knowledgeable and practical organisation, with a sound understanding of livestock and livestock handling. Now, as part of its role to promote the highest standards of welfare for food animals during transport, marketing and slaughter, the HSA has had its informative online e-learning series translated into Spanish and Chinese.

4 September 2015 Poultry producers' assistance required

The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) would like to hear from any poultry producers who are dispatching farmed poultry with free-bullet weapons (particularly air-powered) using a head shot to destroy the brain instantaneously.

Whilst the use of free-bullet weapons for humanely killing poultry has not previously been a recommended technique, it might, if reliably successful, provide an alternative humane method for small-scale producers to slaughter poultry for direct supply to local consumers or retailers, or to kill sick/injured birds.

4 September 2015 HSA releases new guidance notes on electrical waterbath stunning of poultry

New publication provides comprehensive guidance for a variety of personnel working with live birds to optimise welfare during waterbath slaughter

As part of its work to promote the highest standards of welfare for food animals during transport, marketing and slaughter, and following ongoing research into bird welfare during electrical waterbath stunning of poultry, the Humane Slaughter Association has published new guidance notes.

18 August 2015 HSA presents award for significant advances in humane slaughter

The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) has presented its 2015 award for significant advances in humane slaughter to the Danish Meat Research Institute (DMRI).

The award, made annually by the HSA, recognises individuals or organisations that have made significant scientific, technical or other advances that have led to improvements in the humane slaughter of livestock. This year’s award was presented to DMRI during the HSA’s international symposium held recently in Zagreb, Croatia.

8 June 2015 HSA announces two Research Training Scholarships

The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) has announced the awarding of two Research Training Scholarships, each for three-year research projects, at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) and the University of Bristol respectively. The research will focus on two important areas for the advancement of humane slaughter of cattle and of turkeys, ducks and geese, with potentially very significant benefits to producers and to animal welfare.

7 May 2015 A signficant step forward for animal welfare: `The changing role of the Animal Welfare Officer in the light of EC Regulation 1099/2009'

The new requirements relating to the appointment, training and certification of Animal Welfare Officers in meat production operations, contained in EU Regulation EC 1099/2009, and soon to be implemented in England, were described as a significant step forward for animal welfare at a recent meeting entitled ‘The changing role of the Animal Welfare Officer in the light of EC Regulation 1099/2009’ organised by the Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) to discuss the requirements and implementation of the legislation.

9 February 2015 HSA announces Programme for International Symposium

The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) has published the full programme of speakers for the upcoming HSA International Symposium being held in Zagreb, Croatia, in July. There will be 31 presentations over the two-day event, covering a wide range of topics relevant to the welfare of food animals during transport, marketing and slaughter or killing.

22 January 2015 Animal Welfare Officer Seminar

A one-day seminar for the meat and livestock industry on “The changing role of the animal welfare officer in the light of EC 1099/2009” is to be held by the Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) on Wednesday 29^th April 2015.

19 January 2015 HSA Dorothy Sidley Scholars present their work

Two of the Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) Dorothy Sidley Memorial Scholars presented their work at the 16^th annual UFAW/HSA Animal Welfare Student Scholars Meeting which took place recently at the University of Newcastle.

14 January 2015 Promoting humane animal handling and slaughter in Liberia

The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) has funded a six-month project in Liberia to promote humane methods of slaughter and handling of animals in markets and during transportation. The project, delivered by the Liberia Animal Welfare and Conservation Society (LAWCS) received funding through the HSA’s Grants Scheme.

6 October 2014 Online guide to humane harvesting of fish

The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) has added a new title to its series of Online Guides freely available to view and download at its website (www.hsa.org.uk).

2 October 2014 HSA invites applications for the 2015 Dorothy Sidley Memorial Scholarships

The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) is now inviting applications for its 2015 Dorothy Sidley Memorial Scholarships.

26 September 2014 On-farm slaughter of poultry training course

The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) is teaching a poultry welfare training course ‘On-farm slaughter of poultry’ at Plumpton College, East Sussex, on 19 November 2014.

24 September 2014 Applications invited for the HSA 2015 Humane Slaughter Award

The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) – an independent charity that works through education, training, research and technical developments towards achieving high standards of welfare for food animals at markets, during transport and at slaughter – is now inviting applications for its prestigious 2015 Humane Slaughter Award for significant advances in the humane slaughter of farmed livestock.

22 September 2014 Humane Slaughter Association invites applications for Animal Welfare Research Training (PhD) Scholarship

The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) is now inviting applications from veterinary or science graduates for its 2015 Research Training Scholarship to enable a three-year programme of research leading to a degree at the doctorate level.

6 August 2014 International Symposium announced by the Humane Slaughter Association

The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) is to hold an International Symposium on recent advances in food animal welfare during transport, marketing and slaughter on the 16^th and 17^th July 2015 in Zagreb, Croatia.

15 July 2014 HSA announces award for significant advances in humane slaughter

The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) has announced the winner of its 2014 award for significant advances in humane slaughter. The award, which recognises individuals or organisations that have made significant scientific, technical or other advances that have led to improvements in the humane slaughter of livestock, has been given to Dr Bert Lambooij DVM of the Animal Science Group, Wageningen University, the Netherlands.

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05 March 2014 Two new online guides from the Humane Slaughter Association

Two new titles, 'Humane Handling of Livestock' and 'Emergency Slaughter', have been added to the HSA’s series of Online Guides to best practice in the handling and slaughter of livestock and poultry.

22 January 2014 Charles Mason receives AMI Award

Charles Mason, Technical Director of the Humane Slaughter Association (HSA), has received the Robin Irish Award from the Association of Meat Inspectors (AMI).

26 November 2013 New DVD addresses animal welfare needs in road traffic accidents

A new training DVD has been produced in conjunction with the Fire and Rescue Service (FRS) intended for emergency personnel responding to road traffic incidents involving farm animal transport vehicles.

18 October 2013 HSA invites applications for the 2014 Dorothy Sidley Memorial Scholarships

The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) is now inviting applications for its 2014 Dorothy Sidley Memorial Scholarships.

14 October 2013 New stunning method may significantly improve animal welfare

A new method for stunning livestock at slaughter may have the potential for significant animal welfare benefits, as well as having operational and economic advantages, concluded a recent workshop convened by the Humane Slaughter Association (HSA).

11 October 2013 Applications invited for the HSA 2014 Humane Slaughter Award

The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) – an independent charity that works through education, training, research and technical developments towards achieving high standards of welfare for food animals at markets, during transport and at slaughter – is now inviting applications for its 2014 Humane Slaughter Award for significant advances in the humane slaughter of farmed livestock.

10 July 2013 HSA announces award for significant advances in humane slaughter

The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) has announced the winner of its 2013 award for significant advances in humane slaughter. The award, which recognises individuals or organisations that have made significant scientific, technical or other advances that have led to improvements in the humane slaughter of livestock, was won by the IRTA/UAB Animal Welfare Research Group, Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries (IRTA) / Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB).

30 April 2013 On-line guide to stunning now available

New on-line guides to ‘Electrical stunning of red meat animals’ and ‘Captive-bolt stunning of livestock’ have been produced by the Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) and are now available for viewing and free download.

11 March 2013 HSA Director awarded Associate Fellowship of Royal Agricultural Societies

Charles Mason, Technical Director of the Humane Slaughter Association (HSA), has been awarded an Associate Fellowship of the Royal Agricultural Societies for England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, in recognition of his ‘distinguished achievement in agriculture and land based industries’.

28 January 2013 New on-line guide to the slaughter of poultry

An on-line guide to the humane slaughter of poultry has been produced by the Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) and is now available for viewing and free download on the Association’s website.

24 January 2013 New legislation: the implications for slaughterhouses

New legislation intended to protect the welfare of animals at slaughter came into effect on 1 January 2013. The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) has made freely downloadable information available on its website which describes the key points of the new legislation and the implications for slaughterhouses and knackers’ yards.