EVALUATION OF EXISTING SLAUGHTER ACT AND WAY FORWARD TO ITS DEVELOPMENT IN BANGLADESH

This study was undertaken for the evaluation of existing animal slaughter and meat quality control act 2011 and way forward to its development in Bangladesh. Published data, SWOT analyses, structured questionnaires survey, Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) and Key Informant Interviews (KIIs) were carried out for critical analyses and explore the different stakeholder’s views. The study was carried out in seven divisions of Bangladesh namely Dhaka, Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna, Sylhet, Barisal and Rangpur. Total 285 representative samples (covering all stakeholders like farmers, butchers, meat processors, ULO/VS/PDO) were interviewed. Four FGDs and 50 KIIs were administered with different stakeholders. Descriptive statistics like percentage, mean, ranks and Binary logistic regression and Z test were used for data analyses. Findings show that the authority is not functioning properly due to lack of action plan and monitoring cell. Lack of certification authority, sanitary and meat inspector visit, restricted day, pre-slaughter and post-slaughter examination is visible. Act should be updated time to time to address the field based need. The study reveals that to implement the slaughter act Department of Livestock Services (DLS) as authority should have action plan and monitoring cell.


INTRODUCTION
According to the estimate of the Department of Livestock Services, the present population of cattle, goat, buffalo and poultry is about 23.44 million, 25.61 million, 1.45 million and307.47 million, respectively in 2012-13 (DLS, 2014).There is a huge gap between the demand and supply of nutritious foods for the human population.An adult people require at least 250 ml milk, 120 g meat daily, but supply is about 44 ml milk and 20.6 g meat per day (DLS, 2009) which indicates that we are in serious shortage of milk and meat.According to DLS report (2010), annual deficiency of milk, meat and egg is 82.28%, 80.22%, and 62.20%, respectively.
The livestock sub-sector in Bangladesh is currently governed by the following legislation: Bengal Cruelty to Animals Act, 1920, Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Ordinance, 1962, Bangladesh Veterinary Practitioners Ordinance, 1982, Animal Disease Act, 2005, Bangladesh Animal and Animal Product Quarantine Act, 2005, National Livestock Development Policy, 2007, National Poultry Development Policy, 2008, Avian Influenza Compensation Strategy and Guidelines, 2008, Bangladesh Zoo Act, 2009 (Draft), Animals Slaughter andMeat Control Act, 2011, Fish Feed andAnimal Feed Act, 2010, National Livestock extension policy, 2012 (http://www.dls.gov.bd/livestockdevpolicy.php).These pieces of legislation will continue to be updated from time to time in accordance with the policy changes and production trends.In any given country, it is the role of a Government Ministry to develop appropriate policy guidelines for development of the sector the Ministry is involved in.However, development of such policies must involve all the key stakeholders for the guidelines to adequately address real problems and gaps that hinder the development of a sector.
All the attempts in livestock sector development are running to increase production in respect of milk, meat and egg.No activity has yet been taken giving special emphasis for producing safe and healthy food in relation to Hazards Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP), Good Management Practices (GMP) and Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS).In spite of having increased production of animal protein the consumers are not getting safe food as well as the animal industrialists can not export their products as per World Trade Organization (WTO) regulations.The dynamic potential of this emerging sub-sector thus requires critical policy attention.Although gains have been achieved in the sector to some extent, several gaps still exist that have not been addressed in the previous policies.There is need to give direction to the industry by putting in place a policy that will guide the development of the livestock sub-sector in Bangladesh.The policy needs to be reviewed from time to time, taking into account the dynamics of the domestic, regional and global socio-political and economic environment.
With above facts and circumstances to gain new explanatory insight a holistic survey analysis was carried out having different stakeholders on existing animal slaughter act, with the following objectives: Critical analysis of the existing slaughter act in Bangladesh.
(ii) To explore the implementation status of slaughter act with different stakeholders.

(iii)
To identify the gaps between existing slaughter act and expectations from the perspective of stakeholders on the implementation.
(iv) To recommend the output of the study to the concerned policy makers of the Government of Bangladesh.

Selection of the study area
The study was carried out in seven divisions namely Dhaka, Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna, Sylhet, Barisal and Rangpur.These seven divisions were chosen as these locations are contributing significantly in livestock and poultry sector of Bangladesh.

Selection of sample and sampling technique
Table 1 shows the sampling technique of the study.Total 285 representative samples (covering all stakeholders) were interviewed from selected seven divisions consisting 116 farmers, 64 butchers, 66 Meat processors, 39 Government officials of livestock sector (Table 1).In addition, four FGDs (Focus Group Discussions) at BAU, DLS, BLRI, field level and 50 Key Informant Interviews (KII) were administered with different stakeholders.

SWOT Analysis
A SWOT analysis was carried out to critically analyze the existing animal slaughter act.This tool was used for policy-review approach aiming at Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis of the existing slaughter act in Bangladesh (Pearce et al., 2012).

Preparation of survey instruments and pre-testing
To collect the required data, four types of questionnaires were prepared in accordance with the objectives set for the study.Questionnaires then pre-tested in the field among some stakeholders before final data collection.After pre-testing, the final questionnaires were prepared after making necessary corrections, modifications and adjustment.

Data collection and processing
The research relies on both primary and secondary data.Secondary information were sought from various publications, DLS reports, previous survey reports, compendium and the strategic plan documents of the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries.Primary data were collected by the trained enumerator including the researcher himself through face to face interview.

Data analyses
Descriptive statistics like percentage, mean and ranks were used for different variables to describe the present status of different stakeholders.Binary logistic regression was used to identify the variables influencing the slaughter act.Most of these analyses were conducted by using the statistical package named SPSS 20.

Study on SWOT analyses of animal slaughter act, 2011
Animal slaughter and meat quality control act, 2011 enacted with effect from 20 September 2011.The strength, weakness, opportunities and threats of the animal slaughter act are summarized in table 2.
Pregnant, lactating and under aged animal may be slaughtered.
Govt may add provision to ban the slaughtering of restricted animals.Identified.
Threats from animal supplier, butchers etc.

3
Examination of health of preslaughter and post-slaughter of animal and carcass is well defined in section 5 (1-2).
Lack of pre-slaughter and post-slaughter of animal and carcass.

Defect of provision can be found out
Non-cooperation from corrupt vet.and from other stakeholders.
4 Environment of slaughterhouse in section 6.

Lack of hygienic environment and
To find out the defect slaughterhouse.
Pressure may create unlawfully from traders.
No. Strength Weakness Opportunities Threats quality of slaughterhouse.

5
Setting up of slaughterhouse, meat selling and processing plant is shown in section 7.
Does not follow the provision under the act.Lack of monitoring.
To find out the provision duly applied in setting up.
Non-cooperation and discourage to implement the provision from DLS.

6.
License for slaughterhouse, meat selling and processing plant is given in section 8 (1-2).
Without license holders it may be practiced.
To check whether meat stakeholders are licensed holders or not.
Humiliation and physical assaults.

7.
Process of licensing shown in section in 9 (1).
Might have fraudulence.
To find out defect in the process of application of licensing.
Non-cooperation from the authority.
Period of license is very minimal.
To find out application filed after termination of license or 60 days before termination.
Non-cooperation and demand for bribe.

9.
License held up and cancellation defined in section 11.
Defective condition in the processing of licensing.
To check of whether license holders are convicted for any offense or violating any condition.
Offender may attack on authority.
Provision or act not formulated in applying judicial mind.
To verify irrelevance in the provision of act in setting up slaughterhouse related plant.
Obstacle and confinement.

11.
Health status of employees working in slaughterhouse, meat processing and selling centre is shown in section 13.
Infected employee without medical treatment may practice.
Whether employee is infected or free from contagious disease.
.Contagious disease may be spread.
Lack of appropriate provision.
To find out whether provision is being followed in transporting.
Threats may come from stakeholders in confiscating, disposing and destructing.

13.
Restriction day for slaughtering and selling mentioned in section 15.

Not issuance of gazette notification in time.
To find out the restriction day followed by butchers.
Physical assaults or injury may come from butchers.
Sick animal can be slaughtered.
To examine the health of animals before slaughtering.
Authority can be corrupted.

15.
Declaration to non-edible meat stated in section 17.
May have non-edible meat for eating whole or part of carcass.
To examine the whole or part of carcass as edible or non-edible.
Without examination of carcass non-edible meat may enter to food chain.

16.
Direction of destruction or disposal of non-edible part of whole or part of carcass and offal explained in section 18.
Non-edible part of whole or part of carcass and offal may be edible.
Whether non-edible part of whole or part of carcass and offal is disposed of or destructed.
Diseases can be spread.

17.
Direction to send the sample at the laboratory stated in section 19.
Laboratory test may not be performed.
To verify whether sample may be tested or not in proper way.
Test might be done in fake laboratory.
No. Strength Weakness Opportunities Threats 18.
Disposal of slaughter wastes mentioned in section 20.
Irrelevant provision might be formulated.

Whether
wastes are disposed of according to provision.
Environment may be polluted.
Might have residual affect of hormones, antibiotics, preservatives, poisonous metals, harmful organism in meat.
Whether safe meat is being sold or not.. Hides, skin and meat export may be difficult and questionable..

20.
Seizure and disposal of meat and meat products mention in section 22.
Might not practice.
To explore about seizure and disposal of meat and meat products accordingly.

Authorities
will get scared execute the power.
Lack of soundness of mobile court practice.
Mobile court act 2009 whether being honestly practiced or not.
Executive magistrate can work for Govt.
Criminals may escape.Punishment should be increased.
Criminal may commit offense repeatedly.

23.
Appeal stated in section 25.Criminals may be acquitted.
To increase punishment as well as fine.
Slaughter act may not be effective due to lack of punishment.

24.
Delivery of power explained in section 26.
Animal production professionals avoided in this act.
To bring back AH graduate for the purpose of meat quality and control.
Veterinary council and vet are dead against to recruit the AH graduates.

25.
Power of formulation of provision mentioned in 27.
Dictator non elected and non-participatory Govt.may promulgate gazette notification.
Pro-people Govt can promulgate provision.
Repression, oppression, death threat come from constitutionally illegitimate Govt.
Lapse and gaps of the existing act.
Latest animal slaughter act is well up-to-date or not.
Govt. might not be interested.

Farmers' knowledge about animal slaughter act
Different variables in relation to farmer's knowledge about slaughter act are mentioned in table 3.There is a positive relationship between release of blood and bleeding time.Islam (2015) stated that time required for complete bleeding ranged from 9.13 to 16.35 minutes.Mobile court not conducted as per law.Adzitey et al. (2011) described that poor animal handling has adverse effects on the animal, carcass and meat quality.

Knowledge and perception of butcher about animal slaughter act, 2011
Table 4 reveals that more than 80% butchers sell their by-products like blood, bone, kidney, liver, stomach; have proper bleeding knowledge; slaughter should be done in slaughter house except festival.These all sorts of positive answer is a good which aligned to good management practices for Halal and safe meat production.During beef cattle fattening there is a report (Islam et al., 2012) wherein stated farmers having 2-5 heads of cattle are highly fattened using growth promoters like Oradexon (Glucocorticoid steroid), Decason (Glucocorticoid steroid), Dexavet (Synthetic Steroid), Tredexanol (Synthetic Steroid), Pednivet (Steroids).Sixty nine per cent butchers are license holders.It is mandatory to have license in slaughter act.Slaughterhouse and meat processing centre are not set up scientifically as per rules and provisions of the act.Most meat is handled in unhygienic sanitary conditions in both rural and urban areas in Bangladesh.Enforcement of legislation relating to slaughtering or meat inspection is weak (Murshed, 2014).Mobile court should be consisted of livestock expertise along with executive magistrate who is well versed in slaughter act.Food animals such as cattle, buffalo, sheep, and goats are brought to these slaughterhouses from long distances usually by driving or on the hoof.Since there is no lairage, animals generally do not receive ante mortem care (Rahman, 2001).Knowledge and perception of meat processor about slaughter act Table 5 shows that 74% meat processors used clean water in processing plant.Islam (2015) cited that 71.43% butchers clean their slaughter house/meat selling centre which is in agreement with the present findings.It reveals that 30% selling center are not certified by the authority which is the violation of the slaughter act.In many developing countries, regulations concerning meat inspection and/or control are inadequate or non-existent allowing consumers to be exposed to pathogens including zoonotic parasites (Adzitey and Huda, 2012).Perez et al. (2002) observed that a lairage period of two to three hours is necessary to recover from transport stress, because of reduced meat quality with shorter lairage times.Knowledge and perception of ULO/DLO about slaughter act Table 6 shows that 82% Govt.officials does not follow the animal slaughter act.Farmers are in loss in livestock business due to lack of proper marketing and value of the product.The animal slaughter act is known or not 97 3 23

Binary logistic regression for butchers about slaughter act
From binary logistic regression it reveals that none of the endogenous variables have significant effect on the knowledge of farmers about slaughter act.From proportion test (Z test) it reveals that less than 50% of farmers have knowledge about the slaughter act and less than 40% of processors are known about the slaughter act.

Qualitative results on Focus Group Discussion (FGD) and KIIs
We had four FGDs and KIIs with DLS personnel, University teachers and BLRI scientist.From the study it revealed that authority should have appropriate implementation strategy.Scientific slaughter house, chilling facility of fresh meat, important role of academician and researcher, health status of workers of slaughter house and processing plant, consumer's exploitation by butchers should be maintained.Policy should be implemented on step by step basis targeting a period.There should have sophisticated and accredited laboratories to carry out chemical analysis of feeds (de Jonge & Jackson, 2013).
During illegal cross border traffic there is a possibility of transmission of transboundary diseases, loss of foreign currencies and threatens of livestock breeding policies and border killings (The Daily Star, August 10, 2015).If this illegal entry is blocked there will be an opportunity to increase own livestock resources through small scale and large scale livestock farming resulting in poverty reduction in the country (Ali and Hossain, 2014).

CONCLUSION
The study reveals that to implement the slaughter act authority should have action plan and monitoring cell in order to implement the slaughter act; establishment of modern scientific slaughterhouse; slaughtering license process should be transparent; cattle smuggling from neighboring countries should be controlled; act should be updated time to time to address the field based need.

Table 1 .
Population, Sample Size and Sampling Techniques

Table 2 .
Result of SWOT analysis of the animal slaughter act 2011

Table 3 .
Farmers knowledge about animal slaughter act, 2011

Table 4 .
Knowledge and perception of butcher about slaughter act

Table 5 .
Knowledge and perception of meat processor about slaughter act

Table 6 .
Knowledge and perception of ULO/DLO about slaughter act