Animal Welfare - Annex 3

Analysis of welfare trends for major and critical non-compliances in England and Wales.

FY - 2024

Management summary

Analysis of non-compliance numbers for the FY 2024 by location indicate that, slaughterhouse related non-compliances increased by 40.6% compared with previous year, on farm increased by 43% and transport by 21%. In total there were 3,413 Transport cases, 1,051 On Farm cases and 509 Slaughterhouse cases in FY 2024.

Throughout this report ‘FY 2024’ refers to the year from April 2024 to March 2025. The key findings were as follows:

Overall Slaughterhouse changes:

• Sheep breaches nearly doubled since last year, going up substantially across all process points in the slaughterhouse. Sheep has overtaken both Cattle and Poultry to become the species with the most slaughterhouse breaches.
• Cattle breaches more than doubled in Movement but was fairly stable elsewhere.
• Poultry breaches also nearly doubled in Movement but fairly stable elsewhere.
• Pig breaches were similar to last year, going up by 7 (mostly also in Movement).
• Lairage remains the process point with the highest number of non-compliance cases (138 i.e., 26 more than FY 2023) at 27% of the total number of non-compliances for FY 2024. Lairage (27%), movement (27%) and stunning (17%) were the top 3 locations for non-compliances, accounting for 71% of all cases.
• The only process point to decrease was unloading however this accounts for a low number of cases (only 11 in FY 2024).

 

Slaughterhouse CCTV:

• Overall, the number of cases identified by CCTV increased from 80 to 118 between FY 2023 and FY 2024. However, the proportion of slaughterhouse cases identified by CCTV have stayed roughly the same with 22% being identified by CCTV in FY 2023 and 23% in FY 2024.

 

On Farm and Transport:

• On Farm non compliances were cases split between the four species with Poultry being 35% of cases, Cattle being 23%, Pigs 22% and Sheep 20%.
• Transport cases were more strongly weighted towards Poultry, with 47% of all Transport cases. 23% were Pigs, 16% Cattle and 14% Sheep.
• Less than 1% of cases for both types were not allocated to a species.
• Sheep was the only species to see a decrease in either On Farm or Transport cases.

Section 1: Analysis of non-compliance by location

Figure 1 illustrates the comparative change in non-compliance levels for the respective animal welfare locations over the last 4 financial years: FY 2021 to FY 2024. This shows that, transport related non-compliances increased by 21% in FY 2024, on-farm non-compliances increased by 43% and slaughterhouse non-compliances increased by 41%.

Figure 1: Changes in non-compliances by financial years and location.

Figure 2 shows the comparative trends in non-compliance levels for the respective locations from FY 2021 to FY 2024.

Figure 2: Trends in non-compliances per location.

Table 1 below is a summary of non-compliances by severity (level 3 and 4) and location (transport, on farm, and slaughterhouse) for the last 4 financial years (FY 2021 to FY 2024). Compared with other locations, slaughterhouse non-compliances are relatively split between major and critical cases, whereas in the other locations the number of recorded critical cases far outweighs that of major non-compliance cases.

Table 1: Number of non-compliances by financial years and location.

Financial Year	Severity	Transport	On Farm	Slaughterhouse
2021	Level 3 (Major)	38	10	192
2021	Level 4 (Critical)	3067	825	180
2021	Total	3105	835	372
2022	Level 3 (Major)	21	8	198
2022	Level 4 (Critical)	3323	530	156
2022	Total	3344	538	354
2023	Level 3 (Major)	29	6	193
2023	Level 4 (Critical)	2793	728	169
2023	Total	2822	734	362
2024	Level 3 (Major)	39	21	251
2024	Level 4 (Critical)	3374	1030	258
2024	Total	3413	1051	509

Section 2: Slaughterhouse only analysis

Figure 3 illustrates the composition of total slaughterhouse non-compliances in FY 2022 to FY 2024 by different categories i.e., CCTV related and regular cases.

In this chart ‘Regular’ means non-compliances observed by or reported to the FSA Official. ‘CCTV (live and retrospective)’ means non-compliances identified via CCTV review by the FSA Official. ‘CCTV regulation’ means breaches of CCTV regulations, for example degradation of cameras. Although ‘No SOP’ is a Regular non-compliance, it is shown separately due to its prominence of occurrence historically.

In FY 2024, the proportion of CCTV (live and retrospective) non-compliances increased from 48 cases to 52. The proportion of CCTV regulation non-compliances increased from 14 cases to 35 cases. The proportion of No SOP non-compliances increased from 18 cases to 31 cases in FY2024. The number of regular non-compliances has increased from 282 cases to 391.

Figure 3: Breakdown of slaughterhouse non-compliances by financial year.

Figure 4 highlights the total non-compliance comparison between FY 2023 and FY 2024 by quarters. The comparison shows increased levels of non-compliances across all quarters of FY 2024 compared with the same period in FY 2023. The percentage increase of the non-compliances was quite consistent throughout the year with the lowest being a 35% increase in Q2 (from 96 to 130 cases) and the highest being Q1 with a 46% increase (from 79 to 115 cases).

Figure 4: Change in slaughterhouse non-compliances by financial year quarters FY 2023 vs FY 2024.

Figure 5 below shows non-compliances by process points within the slaughterhouse. Sheep related lairage cases and poultry related movement cases both account for 11% of all slaughterhouses non-compliances in FY-2024. In terms of the actual number of non-compliances, sheep related lairage increased from 38 cases in FY 2023 to 57 cases in FY 2024, and poultry related movement increased from 30 cases in FY 2023 to 55 cases in FY 2024.

There were changes in the level of cattle related movement breaches, which have increased from 30 cases in FY 2023 to 47 cases in FY 2024. Sheep made up just under half of all bleeding related non-compliances within slaughterhouse with 27 cases.

Figure 5: Number of non-compliances by animal species and process point – FY 2024.

Figure 6 illustrates the comparative change in the non-compliance numbers for FY 2023 and FY 2024 by process types per animal species in slaughterhouses. It captures changes across animal species year on year. For example, it highlights the increased numbers in movement of poultry and cattle. It also shows the increased non-compliances in sheep for every process type particularly lairage which increased from 38 to 57 in FY 2024. This chart also highlights how the number of bleeding non-compliances has decreased for poultry and stayed the same for cattle.

Figure 6. Comparison of FY 2023 and FY 2024 slaughterhouse non-compliances by animal species.

Figure 7 shows the trends in recorded slaughterhouse breaches split by severity over the past four years. The number of recorded level 3 non-compliances increased in FY 2024 from 193 cases in FY 2023 to 251, while recorded level 4 non-compliances increased from 169 to 258 over the same period.

Figure 7: Trends in slaughterhouse non-compliances – FY 2021 to FY 2024

Figure 8 illustrates the change in numbers of non-compliances across all animal species in FY 2024 in comparison with FY 2023. Cases involving cattle have increased by 24% (105 to 130), pigs by 17% (41 to 48), poultry increased by 16% (124 to 144) and sheep by 87% from 87 to 163 cases. Other animal species and non-compliances which are not related to a specific animal make up 5% of the slaughterhouse cases and have been excluded from this chart.

Figure 8. Change in the number of non-compliances per financial year by animal species.

Figure 9 shows the split by severity of cases for each of the slaughterhouse process points. Lairage has 138 total cases with 66% and 34% level 3 and 4 respectively. Bleeding (55 total cases) has the highest proportion of level 4 cases (80%), followed by stunning (86 cases) with 62% being level 4 cases and movement (135 total cases) with 60% level 4. Management has the lowest proportion of level 4 cases 32%.

Figure 9: Slaughterhouse non-compliances by process point – FY 2024.

Figure 10 illustrates the changes in non-compliances by process point between FY-2023 and FY-2024. The chart shows decreased cases (red bars) in unloading, all other process points have increased compared with FY 2023 (green bars).

Figure 10: Change in number of slaughterhouse non-compliances by process point – FY 2024.

Figure 11 also highlights changes in non-compliances across all the identifiable categories of animal species in FY 2024. Non-compliances have increased across all animal species with sheep and cattle registering the largest increase +76 and +25 respectively.

Figure 11. Change in number of slaughterhouse non-compliances by animal species – FY 2024.

Section 3: Analysis of Transport and On Farm non-compliances

Figure 12 illustrates changes in the number of on-farm and transport related non-compliances for FY 2023 and FY 2024. There has been an increase in both transport and on-farm non-compliances across all animal species except sheep, which decreased for both categories. In general, both transport and On-farm non-compliances have increased by 43% and 41% respectively in FY 2024.

This chart shows that the 1,051 on-farm cases break down between the four species as Poultry being 35% of cases, Cattle being 23%, Pigs 22% and Sheep 20%. Less than 1% of cases were not allocated to a species.  (Note 125 Poultry cases were allocated as Trapping, which is often associated with Transport rather than On Farm. If these were reclassified, the four species would be much closer, with Poultry and Cattle both accounting for 26%, Pigs 25% and Sheep 23% of 926 On Farm cases).

Transport cases were more strongly weighted towards Poultry, with 47% of all 3413 Transport cases. 23% were Pigs, 16% Cattle and 14% Sheep. Again, less than 1% of cases were not allocated to a species.

Sheep is the only species to see a slight decrease in breaches when compared with the previous year, for both On Farm and for Transport.

Figure 12. Non-compliances in Transport and On-farm by animal species.

Transport

The biggest factor contributing to transport non-compliances was Trapping with 1172 cases (increase of 37%). Dead on Arrival (DOA) was the second biggest contributor with 926 cases but decreased by 12%. Although Dead on Arrival (DOA) suspected cold/ heat stress increased by 52% and Dead on Arrival (DOA) multiple deaths decreased by 44%. Lameness Score of 3 and 4 increased by 84% and 133% respectively.

Table 2. Major causes of Transport non-compliances - FY 2023 v 2024.

Type	FY 2023	FY 2024	Percentage Change
Trapping	857	1172	37%
Dead On Arrival (DOA)	1056	926	-12%
Incoordination/unable to walk/unable to stand	237	241	2%
Late stages of pregnancy - Identified at PM	243	203	-16%
Dead On Arrival (DOA) - suspected cold/heat stress	67	102	52%
Broken limbs	-	93	-
Lameness Score of 3	32	59	84%
Dead On Arrival (DOA) - Multiple deaths	101	57	-44%
Open wounds	-	55	-
Broken Leg	65	54	-17%
Bruising	-	54	-
Pododermatitis	-	46	-
Lameness Score of 4	18	42	133%
Broken horns	-	33	-
Late stages of pregnancy - Identified at AM	30	29	-3%
Tail bites	-	24	-
Crates/modules poorly maintained	18	22	22%
Prolapse	-	21	-
Lameness Score of 2	29	13	-55%
Overgrown/Ingrown horn	-	12	-
Dislocation (specify in text box)	-	11	-
Unloading causing injury	14	9	-36%
Hypothermic	-	9	-
Other*	55	126	130%

Other* – the sum of all the remaining 30 minor categories in FY 2024 and the sum of all 12 remaining minor categories in FY 2023.

On farm

Table 3 details the major sources of On-farm non-compliances in FY 2024 in comparison with their previous levels in FY 2023. Pododermatitis had 131 cases, a 14% increase. Lameness also increased for each of scores 2,3 and 4; with 17, 42 and 18 cases respectively.  Some changes could be to do with how the data has been categorised – there were no Dead On Arrival On Farm cases last year where there are 112 this year, but the number of Transport Dead On Arrival cases went down 139 across the three DOA categories.

Table 3. Major causes of On Farm non-compliances – FY 2023 v 2024.

Type	FY 2023	FY 2024	Percentage Change
Pododermatitis	115	131	14%
Trapping	-	126	-
Incoordination/unable to walk/unable to stand	-	115	-
Late stages of pregnancy - Identified at PM	-	94	-
Dead On Arrival (DOA)	-	87	-
Open wounds	76	62	-18%
Lameness Score of 3	24	42	75%
Bruising	77	37	-52%
Tail bites	31	36	16%
Prolapse	31	35	13%
Mastitis	84	28	-67%
Broken Leg	-	21	-
Lameness Score of 4	6	18	200%
Lameness Score of 2	12	17	42%
Dead On Arrival (DOA) - Multiple deaths	-	15	-
Late stages of pregnancy - Identified at AM	-	13	-
Abscesses	8	11	38%
Dead On Arrival (DOA) - suspected cold/heat stress	-	10	-
Hernias	17	9	-47%
Arthritis	22	8	-64%
Broken horns	27	8	-70%
Broken limbs	61	8	-87%
Emaciation	5	8	60%
Other*	138	112	-19%

Other* – the sum of all the remaining 21 minor categories in FY 2024 and the sum of all 20 remaining minor categories in FY 2023.

On farm and Transport

It should be noted that some of the categories are similar in nature but recorded separately or have changed slightly. For example, there are three Dead on Arrival (DOA) categories under Transport and a further three under On Farm. There are also different types of Lameness, and Late stages of pregnancy categories under Transport and On Farm. Some of these have gone down in value, and others up.

Caution should be taken with percentage changes when looking at farm and transport data individually. It therefore makes sense to review them collectively, with some categories collated to present a clearer picture.

Table 4. Major causes of On Farm and Transport non-compliances – FY 2023 v 2024.

Type	FY 2023	FY 2024	Percentage Change	FY 2024 Percentage of Total
Trapping	857	1298	51%	29%
DOA (all types)	1224	1197	-2%	27%
Lameness/incoordination (all types)	365	554	52%	12%
Late stages of pregnancy (all types)	273	339	24%	8%
Pododermatitis	115	177	54%	4%
Open wounds	76	117	54%	3%
Broken limbs	61	101	66%	2%
Bruising	77	91	18%	2%
Broken Leg	65	75	15%	2%
Tail bites	31	60	94%	1%
Prolapse	31	56	81%	1%
Broken horns	27	41	52%	1%
Mastitis	84	34	-60%	1%
Crates/modules poorly maintained	18	29	61%	1%
Overgrown/Ingrown horn	10	18	80%	0%
Abscesses	8	16	100%	0%
Hernias	17	15	-12%	0%
Dislocation	2	13	550%	0%
Emaciation	5	12	140%	0%
Deformities	5	11	120%	0%
Unloading causing injury	14	11	-21%	0%
Arthritis	22	10	-55%	0%
Contusion/Swollen	9	10	11%	0%
Hypothermic	4	9	125%	0%
Other*	156	170	9%	4%
Total	3556	4464	26%

Other* – the sum of all the remaining minor categories in FY 2023 and FY 2024