By Jennifer Lanier, Ph.D.
Every year, approximately 480,000 animals are bought and sold at the La Cámara de Ganaderos Unidos del Sur auction house in Costa Rica. Through the auction process these animals, mostly cattle, are transported from the ranch, unloaded, displayed, and eventually sold to buyers. In partnership with the auction house, Humane Society International has worked for the past year to improve the welfare of the animals by promoting education, research and animal-friendly handling techniques.
As part of our effort to improve animal welfare in the livestock industries of Central America, HSI helped the auction house enhance animal welfare practices and guidelines, including the creation of an in-house commission that continually works to identify welfare issues affecting animals passing through.
Some of the concerns the commission has begun to address include limiting the use of electric prods, reducing the number of animals in pens, and improving loading and unloading techniques. In addition, the commission meets frequently to discuss strategies to upgrade current practices through the promotion of research on animal welfare and consider how best to improve the facility's construction and design.
For example, after testing the functionality and effectiveness of rounded holding pens, the commission decided that all newly constructed pens should have rounded corners (pictured above). Because movement is made easier for the animals, rounded pens help reduce injuries to both the animals and the handlers. The auction house is now building additional rounded pens.
The next big step is the adoption of a strict animal welfare training regiment for all employees. Developed by the commission with the assistance of HSI, the new regiment will be the first of its kind for an auction house in Central America derived from the animal welfare standards of the American Meat Institute.
The most important component of the program will be the introduction of hands-on learning sessions for all current employees to learn animal behavior and humane handling methods. In addition, the auction house also committed to hiring new employees only after successful completion of the training sessions, providing incentives to adhere to animal welfare rules, and engaging in a formal and informal inspection and evaluation process for all employees.
One of the goals is a dramatic reduction in the percentage of animals electrically prodded in the next year. Currently, electrical prods are being used on nearly 90 percent of the animals passing through the auction house.
One change employees are most excited about is the addition of siding on the animal loading/unloading ramp, which provides both a visual and physical barrier. Previously, the animals were difficult to handle and would occasionally kick at the workers, but now they remain calmer, move forward more readily and are unable to injure the workers.
After working with HSI for over a year, La Cámara de Ganaderos Unidos del Sur has shown that the welfare of the animals in its care is of great concern, and it is committed to making continued changes that effect nearly half a million animals each year.
Jennifer Lanier, Ph.D. serves as Director of Scientific Programs for Humane Society International.
