Kurt D. Vogel PhD

Independent Thoughts

Teachable moments from 2022

Training is important in preventing events that could result in enforcement actions.

Kelsey Kuehni Abby Tomandl Beth McIlquham Karly N. Anderson Ashlynn A. Kirk

Kurt D. Vogel PhD

July 6, 2023

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In 2022, the majority of enforcement actions were related to stunning.

Group of black and white, mixed, crossbred beef heifers in a row

Proper stunning reduces humane handling enforcement actions

Emphasis should focus on training personnel and improving restraint.

Kurt D. Vogel PhD

October 26, 2022

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Emphasis should focus on training personnel and improving restraint.

Stunning lines in processing plants should be monitored by employees to make sure the animals are being properly stunned

Teachable moments in humane animal handling

Lessons from the 62 humane handling enforcement actions posted to the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Services website in 2021.

Kurt D. Vogel PhD Karly N. Anderson Joie Haines Hannah Olsen

June 1, 2022

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Within the 62 enforcement actions, most were related to cattle (48.4%; 30 of 62), followed by swine (40.3%; 25 of 62), sheep (6.5%; four of 62), and goats (4.8%; three of 62).

Recovering from a challenging year

Kurt D. Vogel PhD

October 26, 2021

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During the escalation of the COVID-19 pandemic in the summer of 2020, the entire live-animal supply chain was disrupted as slaughter establishments dealt with internal virus outbreaks and resulting reductions in slaughter capacity.

Humane handling: Teachable moments from 2020

Hannah Olsen Karly N. Anderson Katy Bishop Joie Haines Olyvia Horsman Taylor Paye Valerie Rakoczy Rachel Hoff

Kurt D. Vogel PhD

September 9, 2021

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In 2020, there were 99 humane handling enforcement actions posted to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service website.

State of the Industry 2019 | Animal Welfare

State of Animal Welfare 2019

Get back to the basics

Kurt D. Vogel PhD

October 23, 2019

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The University of Wisconsin-River Falls Animal Welfare Lab's summary of the USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service's (FSIS) humane handling regulatory activity from 2018 identified ineffective stunning as the most common cause of suspension.

State of the Industry 2018

State of Animal Handling 2018

Targeting humane solutions: A look at animal welfare in the meat and poultry industry

Kurt D. Vogel PhD

October 25, 2018

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From an animal welfare perspective, 2018 has been a relative continuation of the past few years. Many of the same challenges still exist, but many within the industry have made the choice to take the challenges head-on and find solutions that work for them.

Farm to Plate

Data pinpoints need for a continued focus on stunning efficacy and management

A stunning issue: Assessing humane-handling enforcement actions and developing teachable moments for processors on stunning and handling of animals.

Faith Baier Lucas Heimmermann Sara Odegard Kaleiah Schiller

Kurt D. Vogel PhD

June 13, 2018

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In 2016 and 2017, 107 and 104 humane handling enforcement actions were posted to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) Web site, respectively.

State of the Industry

State of the Meat and Poultry Industry 2017: Animal welfare

Keep driving to improve animal care, handling

Kurt D. Vogel PhD

October 13, 2017

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An improvement mode continues for humane handling and stunning in beef and pork plants in North America.

The majority of humane handling enforcement actions in 2015 were documented in cattle facilities

Animal welfare: teachable moments of 2015

Faith Baier Amanda Munger

Kurt D. Vogel PhD

April 12, 2016

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In 2015, 96 humane handling enforcement actions were posted to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) Web site.