Articles by Kurt D. Vogel PhD

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.

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

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

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

It is no secret that different people may react in vastly different ways to stressful situations.

Fifty-six copies of enforcement letters have been posted to the FSIS Humane Handling Web site in 2013. A review of these letters underscores the importance of a systematic approach to animal welfare and helps identify common issues to resolve.

When it comes to humane livestock handling, the quality of an animal’s handling experience is largely dictated by the skill and patience of the handler. However, quality facilities don’t hurt.

It is hard to deny that the development of dialogue between animal agriculture and consumers has been a focal point for most food processors and retailers in recent years.