From philosophical and ethical views on the slaughter of farmed livestock, to the intensely practical guidelines that need to be put in place to maximize animal welfare, this book provides a balance between evidence-based, scientific studies and down to earth practical advice. It is an important publication for government and private industry managers, veterinarians and animal welfare practitioners who will be implementing improvements in the humane slaughter of livestock throughout the world.Key Points: Evidence-based and scientifically sound yet highly practical in its advice The book covers highly controversial issues such as the tradeoffs between balancing animal welfare concerns with commercial realities as well as religious slaughter and cultural differences in attitudes.