Animal welfare along the meat supply chain: criteria, evidence, animal health and their implications for purchasing and product communication.
The first detection of highly pathogenic H5N5 avian influenza in Great Britain’s 2026/27 season matters beyond the affected holding. On 2 October, the virus was confirmed in commercial backyard poultry in Ness, on the Scottish …
AHDB’s new explanation of the European Union livestock strategy and protein plan shifts attention from isolated targets to a production system. For the meat sector, the issue is not merely which welfare or environmental …
The European Commission has agreed to mobilise €73 million from the agricultural reserve to compensate Italian farms affected by avian influenza and African swine fever. Of that amount, €61 million is for poultry and egg producers …
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) has updated its executive report with figures showing how far heat has become an operational issue for slaughter plants and animal transport. Between May and July 2026, recorded heat-stress cases in …
USPOULTRY has released an Excel-based calculator designed to rapidly estimate resources needed for mass poultry depopulation during a highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreak. Presented on 17 September, the tool calculates …
Animal welfare at slaughter can only be verified when observations are collected, organised and interpreted reproducibly. Welfair’s in-person auditor course for cattle slaughter is being held in Lleida from 15 to 17 September. The …
Implementing Decision (EU) 2026/2056, published on 10 September, again amends the Union’s emergency measures in response to outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza. In legal terms, the decision updates the annex to Decision …
The German Meat Industry Association (VDF) is calling for another postponement of the mandatory application of the Animal Husbandry Labelling Act (THKG), currently scheduled for 1 January 2027. The sector alliance’s statement …
On 10 September, the Swine Health Information Center (SHIC) announced that it will be integrated into the National Pork Board (NPB), with completion expected by the end of 2026. This is not the disappearance of a minor …
The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) called on 4 September, at the 9th World One Health Congress in Lisbon, for a move from declaration to implementation of One Health. Its argument directly affects the meat chain: …
On 1 September, the United Kingdom opened a new Farming Innovation Programme round worth £13 million to move research solutions into practical agriculture. Among the referenced projects is an enhanced Streptococcus suis vaccine …
On 4 September, the UK government opened a call for evidence on the breeding, release and shooting of gamebirds in England. The process will examine effects on wildlife, protected habitats, disease spread, animal welfare, wildlife …
The re-emergence of New World screwworm is putting animal health back at the centre of supply security. The pest attacks wounds in warm-blooded animals; beyond the direct suffering it causes, infestations can affect handling, …
A review published in Sensors shifts the precision-livestock discussion from sensor availability to reliable deployment. It examines systems for capturing activity, feeding, respiration, thermal regulation and other indicators …
QS and Initiative Tierwohl have launched a pilot project allowing organic meat to be used in QS- and ITW-declared meat products and meat preparations. The initiative aims to open marketing routes for organic raw materials within …