The Australian Meat Processor Corporation (AMPC) is developing a training package as part of a suite of measures to support red meat processors to demonstrate their animal welfare credentials.
Program Manager Ann McDonald said, “We are developing a training program for the use of electrical stunning of cattle for those processors across Australia who use the technology and also for those processors who would like to use it in the future.
“Currently only a small number of processors use this technology, however there is increasing interest with a number now trialling, or keen to trial, the technology.”
Many processors in Australia use percussive stunning. Electrical stunning is used worldwide for cattle and smallstock and is approved by the World Organisation for Animal Health and also the RSCPA.
AMPC is working with technology provider, Think Digital, to deliver virtual training on a web-based platform.
The project is expected to complete in March 2025 with training being rolled out to red meat processors in May 2025.
Ann McDonald said, “AMPC is supportive of research into alternative stunning practices and as part of our role as the red meat processing industry’s research and development organisation we are rolling out this training.”