
Dossier: Arrival and lairage management
This dossier summarizes key information for inspectors on issues related to welfare of pigs arriving, being handled and in lairage of slaughterhouses.
The dossier is based on EURCAW-Pigs’ “Review on arrival and lairage management at pig slaughterhouses”
After arrival at the slaughterhouse, and in addition to preslaughter-stress, pigs are confronted with an entirely new environment which they have to cope with. This dossier highlights the following three key areas relevant for animal welfare and thereby of relevance for inspections: (1) arrival management, (2) handling and moving in lairage, and (3) comfort around resting. The stunning and slaughter process itself is not included, and will be dealt with in a separate review.
Important publications
- Review on arrival and lairage management at pig slaughterhouses (version 1.0) EURCAW-Pigs, 2020
- Scientific Opinion on the welfare of pigs at slaughter EFSA Panel on Animal Health and Welfare, EFSA Journal, 18(6):6148, 113 pp., 2020
- Thematic factsheet on arrival and lairage management at pig slaughterhouses, EURCAW-Pigs, 2020 [not published yet]
- Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 of 22 December 2004 on the protection of animals during transport and related operations and amending Directives 64/432/EEC and 93/119/EC and Regulation (EC) No 1255/97 EC, 2004
- Council Regulation (EC) No 1099/2009 of 24 September 2009 on the protection of animals at the time of killing EC, 2009
Each EURCAW-Pigs dossier addresses the following 5 items: Legislation', ‘Welfare indicators’, ‘Knowledge’, Inspiring examples', and 'Training courses'.
Legislation

Council Regulations (EC) No 1099/2009 and 1/2005 regulate the legal requirements related to arrival and lairage management.
Knowledge

Background information and practical knowledge on the welfare issues related to arrival and lairage management pre-slaughter and how welfare problems can be limited.
Inspiring examples

Inspiring examples and demonstrators related to arrival and lairage management.