Humane Slaughter Association: 100 years of making a difference

14-07-2011 | Home | News

This year, the Humane Slaughter Association (HSA) in the UK is celebrating its Centenary. At this occasion, the book “Making a Difference” was published. Review on the achievements of the 100 years old charity.

During the early years of the twentieth century there was a growing recognition in the UK that the slaughter of animals for meat resulted in a large amount of preventable suffering. The report of the Admiralty Committee of the Humane Slaughtering of Animals, published in 1904, found that the methods employed by slaughterhouses could be considerably improved. The Committee’s recommendations included that all animals should be stunned or otherwise rendered unconscious before sticking (cutting the throat), that those awaiting slaughter should be screened from the sight and smells of slaughter and that only licensed slaughtermen should be employed.

Eventually this led to the foundation of HSA in 1911. And this has proved to be a useful body. Still today they are playing a significant role in the public debate on slaughtering animals properly. Not as an animal rights protection organisation, but as an official body, accepted and supported by the agicultural community and the public. Also the poultry industry is dealing with HSA.

At the occasion of the centenary of HSA, the book “Making a Difference”was published by HSA. It chronologically reviews the history and the acheivements of the organisation in the UK and abroad. Sale price of the 120 pages book is 5 UK pound and is available from the HSA.