Kurt Vogel, Ph.D., is an associate professor in the Animal and Food Science Department at the University of Wisconsin-River Falls. He is also president of Vogel Livestock Solutions, a food animal welfare consulting company. If you have any questions or comments, contact Vogel by email: kurt.vogel@uwrf.edu or phone: (715) 425-4704.

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

No Comments

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

No Comments

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

No Comments

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

No Comments

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.

The poultry stunning method called Low Atmospheric Pressure Stunning (LAPS) is gaining support

Farm to Plate

Research Perspective: LAPS could set humane standard

Poultry stunning method continues to gain support as an innovative way to humanely stun animals for slaughter.

Kaleiah Schiller

Kurt D. Vogel PhD

January 28, 2016

No Comments

The aim behind humane methods of slaughter in processing plants is to ensure the welfare of any animal subject to pre-slaughter stunning by means of diminishing stress levels and eliminating any pain felt during slaughter.

Farm to Plate

Humane handling: Culture sets the tone

The best tool we have to prevent abuse is culture.

Kurt D. Vogel PhD

August 11, 2015

One Comment

Animal welfare auditing has become as commonplace in slaughter establishments as HACCP monitoring practices.

Building an animal-welfare board

Tips for developing an executive board to assist your company in guidance on humane-handling strategies.

Kurt D. Vogel PhD

April 9, 2015

No Comments

As more meat processors, retailers and restaurant companies begin to ponder their approach to handling the issues associated with animal welfare, the advisory board concept is becoming increasingly common to help decision makers get the information they need.

Farm to Plate

Teachable moments from 2014

Amanda Munger

Kurt D. Vogel PhD Dana Wagner

December 10, 2014

No Comments

An analysis of the past year’s humane-handling enforcement actions.

Farm to Plate

Animal welfare, technology and time

Developing animal-welfare assurance programs is a process, but technology can help improve the results.

Kurt D. Vogel PhD

October 6, 2014

No Comments

Humane handling and stunning audits have become a normal part of verification activities for quality assurance personnel at most North American slaughter establishments

Farm to Plate

Look, but don’t touch: indicators of unconsciousness in stunned livestock

When it comes to electrically stunned animals, processors can observe a variety of indicators to determine unconsciousness but should avoid using the corneal reflex.

Kurt D. Vogel PhD

April 8, 2014

No Comments

The corneal reflex has been one of the go-to indicators of unconsciousness in stunned livestock for decades.

How to Respond to Foodborne Illness Investigations and the Data Released on Them

The CDC's foodborne illness estimates are a fascinating puzzle of information that many processors may not understand or even utilize properly. Editorial Board member Andrew Lorenz breaks it down for processors to better understand how it might affect their business in 2019, and then shares how to respond to foodborne illness investigations.

Food Safety Summit

At the 20th Annual Food Safety Summit we will address the importance of food safety throughout the supply chain and how each community that makes up the ecosystem is connected. It is vital to understand not only your roles and responsibilities but also those in the rest of the process. With case studies, educational sessions, peer-to-peer conversations, and new technologies, we will provide a wide range of applicable, real world solutions to identified needs and situations for the food community.

Products

Poultry Meat Processing, Second Edition

When the first edition of Poultry Meat Processing was published, it provided a complete presentation of the theoretical and practical aspects of poultry meat processing, exploring the complex mix of biology, chemistry, engineering, marketing, and economics involved. Upholding its reputation as the most comprehensive text available, Poultry Meat Processing, Second Edition is thoroughly expanded and updated.

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The National Provisioner

January 2019

Check out the January 2019 issue of The National Provisioner, featuring our cover story on Stampede Meat's new processing facility, the 2019 Poultry Report, and much more.

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Kurt D. Vogel PhD

ARTICLES

State of Animal Handling 2018

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

State of the Meat and Poultry Industry 2017: Animal welfare

Animal welfare: teachable moments of 2015

Research Perspective: LAPS could set humane standard

Humane handling: Culture sets the tone

Building an animal-welfare board

Teachable moments from 2014

Animal welfare, technology and time

Look, but don’t touch: indicators of unconsciousness in stunned livestock

The National Provisioner

January 2019

Independent Processor

December 2018