Condition of animals on arrival at the abattoir and their management during lairage

This chapter presents guidelines on how to assess fitness for transport, undertake on-farm euthanasia for animals not fit for transport; and develop on-farm policies to avoid transporting animals in a deteriorated and compromised condition. Also, how lairage conditions and the management of animals in a lairage may or may not mitigate the condition of the animals on arrival and avoiding deterioration of their welfare during lairage were discussed. Resting behaviour and the importance of physical and social environmental factors in meeting the behavioural and physiological requirements of the animals while in a lairage were also emphasized.