The Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) has announced the winner of its Humane Slaughter Award. Dr Mette S Herskin, a senior researcher in the Department of Animal Science at Aarhus University, Denmark, is the 2022 recipient of the award.
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.
Mette’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.
In the same space of time, Mette has championed scientific communication on the subject, contributing abstracts to over 20 conferences and symposia, delivering lectures to members of the public and writing textbooks. She is also a member of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) Animal Health and Welfare Panel and chair of the working group assessing animal welfare during transport.
The Human Slaughter Award will be presented to Mette at the HSA International Conference: Livestock Welfare during Transport, Marketing & Slaughter in Edinburgh, UK on 30 June and 1 July 2022. Dr Mette Herskin will also be delivering a plenary talk about her work focusing on the cull sow during the event.
Dr Huw Golledge, HSA’s chief executive and scientific director, said: “I am delighted that the HSA has recognised Dr Herskin’s drive to advocate evidence-based changes and improvements to animal welfare during transport, lairage and slaughter.
“In particular, her focus on welfare during transport to slaughter is something the HSA is delighted to recognise as there are significant opportunities to improve animal welfare using evidence such as that produced by Dr Herskin.
“Not only has Dr Herskin contributed significantly to the evidence-base in this area, but she has also worked tirelessly to communicate the findings of her research with a wide audience. I am looking forward to hearing more details about Dr Herskin’s work at the HSA International Conference in July.”
More information about the HSA International Conference, including registration details, can be found on the HSA website. Early bird registration for the conference closes on 7 April 2022.
