Mette Herskin winner of Humane Slaughter Award 2022
Subject
Transport, slaughter
Target audience
Welfare inspectors, policy workers, competent authorities
The award was presented at the HSA International Conference: Livestock Welfare during Transport, Marketing & Slaughter in Edinburgh, UK on 30th June and 1st July 2022. Dr Herskin also delivered a plenary talk about her work focusing on the cull sow during the event.
Welfare during transport to slaughter
The Humane Slaughter Award recognises individuals or organisations that have made major scientific advances in the welfare of livestock during transport, marketing and slaughter, or killing for disease control. Dr Herskin’s research links ethology and veterinary science, with a particular focus on the behaviour of farm animals when kept in conditions that may challenge their welfare. In the last decade alone, she and her team have published 19 peer-reviewed articles focusing on animal transport, lairage, and slaughter as well as reviewing the difficulties associated with the assessment of fitness for transport.
Dr Herskin is grateful for the award: “.. especially for being awarded by HSA because for me they have a unique mission – they go to work every day facing really hard issues, that many people don’t even know exist, and do it in a very constructive and inclusive way. Having said that it is important to remember that one person receives the award, but it takes many people to achieve the underlying results – there is a whole team of hard working people behind this. I have the greatest team!”
Wide audience
Not only has Dr Herskin contributed significantly to the evidence-base in this area, but she has also worked extensively to communicate the findings of her research with a wide audience. Dr Herskin is also a member of the EFSA Animal Health and Welfare Panel, and chair of the working group assessing animal welfare during transport. Moreover, Dr Herskin (co-)authored EURCAW-Pigs’ reviews on fitness for transport, welfare of pigs during transport, and welfare at pre-slaughter. She is now working on a review on the transport of sows.
Introphoto: Mette Herskin on acceptance of her HSA Award (©Twitter)