SWOT Analysis

AGSC 6

Slaughtering and Animal Products Processing

Strength-Weakness-Opportunity-Threat

Analysis on the film

Temple Grandin

Submitted by: Nhyll Acuña

BSA 2-3

Submitted on: January 27, 2014

Submitted to: Ms. N. Cabaral

Introduction

This article is a Strength-Weakness-Opportunity-Threat Analysis (SWOT Analysis) on the film “Temple Grandin”. It aims to show the positive attributes (Strength) of Temple Grandin’s work, as well as its negative attributes (Weakness), optimistic effect (Opportunity), and the pessimistic outcome (Threat). This will be circulating on the works directed to the ante-mortem handling of ruminant animals (animals prior to slaughtering).

On strength, the works with positive effect on the ante-mortem handling of ruminant animals were emphasized. Innovations, technologies and concepts as well as the new facilities were included here.

On weakness, the negative side of the particular work is being unraveled. Negative effects directed to the different aspects of enterprise were shown at the latter part. Also, the hindrances seen from the concept were discussed.

On opportunity, the potential advantages derived from employing the project on farms and slaughterhouses were shown. Optimistic views on certain aspects were related to the advancement of handling processes.

On threat, the potential liabilities, undesirable outcomes, and disadvantages of applying the concept of Temple Grandin were unveiled. The negative and pessimistic views brought by this technology were also included.

This Strength-Weakness-Opportunity-Threat Analysis (SWOT Analysis) tends to pinpoint such terms. These aspects will be explained and elaborated on the next pages.

Strength

Temple had established several facilities and technologies regarding to animal behavior, and on what way we can aid to provide them the least stress at the process of ante-mortem handling. These were integrated with much more humane practices that will surely benefit the ruminants being handled. She also explained the principles that underlie on some previous technologies.

  One of the remarkable achievements of Temple Grandin is to explain the principle of squeezing machine. This turns out to be the suppressor of ruminants’ stress, whenever they seem to exhibit unstable emotions. Instead of rumbling and raging, the animal will be relaxed and be pacified.

Another is the introduction of a new dip. It is a bathing system and facility that ensured lesser to no mortality on the process of bathing the ruminants, still on the much more humane way. This is composed of a dip, wherein the walk seem to have slats or “stairs”, which is the responsible factor that reduces the mortality of animals due to drowning.

Also, the alteration of conventional way of ante-mortem handling of ruminants in slaughterhouses gave a more humane and lesser stressful approach to the ruminants. Here, the need of whipping by cowboys and other human intervention that induces stress were eliminated. The facility in the form of paths allowed the animals to move at their natural will, while unknowingly following the way to their respective area.

She also emphasized the humane treatment to animals prior to slaughtering. Such treatment involves stress proofing and touching them on heads emphatically before the very moment of stunning.

Weakness

Temple Grandin’s proposed innovations and technologies still seem to have negative sides, though.  Not all farm owners and slaughterhouses agree at her concepts. Her designs of facilities have a real conflict in being established on the different ruminant farms and slaughterhouses. There, numerous problems derived and that hindered the introduction of technologies somehow.

The reigning constraint aroused was definitely its cost. Compared to the conventional facilities, they were quite expensive. Cost of equipment required seems to be uneconomical. Farm owners and slaughterhouse operators, having a great issue about that, may have a quite serious assessment of the related aspects before deciding the establishment of these facilities and technologies.

Another hindrance is that resources needed seem to be of larger quantities. The particular project is obviously resource extensive. Farm owners and slaughterhouse operators tend to choose technologies and facilities that require fewer resources, and even at times reaching the point of compromising the situation of ruminants they were handling. From there, we can conclude that resource is a factor to be discussed thoroughly.  

Also, the fact that many of people seem to not want to innovate at all is a real headache on the establishment of the facilities and technologies. Others prefer to the conventional way, and don’t give even little care on advancing. Maybe they hate changes, or just don’t want to be surpassed by newer endeavors. Others do not really care on giving respect on animals and on their welfare. Either ways, the project proposed must be much more persuasive enough to draw their attention and to enlighten them.

Opportunity

Opportunities arose on Temple’s works. Many benefits can be derived from here technological advances in the field of ruminant ante-mortem handling.

One of them is giving the animal some respect. With Temple’s principle of lairaging, which she based on nature of cattle’s movements, reduces if not eliminating the need of whipping ruminants by the cowboys. This act of cowboys might seem to be very inhumane in nature.

Another thing is the animals suffer minimal to no stress at all. The main cause of stress is due to human intervention. This factor, when turned to minimal degree, will be good news for the ruminants indeed. They will be able to move freely at the way they supposed to be. This will occur while ruminants go to their respective destinations.

And due to minimal stress, ruminants will be more relaxed, and leading them to their next particular area will be easier and more efficient. Noise induced by them due to annoyance and responses to hurt will dramatically diminish. Actually, you can just open the gate and let them do the rest.

Also, lesser mortality on bathing will be observed, still on the much more humane way. On their way to the dip where they bath, incidences of drowning will decline. This is due to the well-planned bathing system with facilities designated especially according to the needs of ruminants.

Threat

As the concepts of Temple Grandin draws weaknesses, so do as to threats. On this project, many negative results will inevitably arise. Be it on the perspective of farm owners, slaughterhouse operators, or workers, will bring an undesirable product.

An example of these threats lies on the jobs of cowboys. They were the ones in charge of making the ruminants move to their next designated stop. If the project works by letting animals move by its natural will, then there’s no need for cowboys to guide. If the aim of the project is to minimize stress and bring much more humane treatment to animals, then the need of removing extensive human intervention will, of course, be eliminated. Put it simply, cowboys will definitely lose their jobs.

Another thing is that this project may bring confusion to the operators and farm owners. This program is way too different from the conventional way of ruminant ante-mortem handling. Ones who were particular to the conventional way might have a hard time adjusting to the new concepts. This may even lead to entire crumbling of the enterprise.

Also, on the part of farm owner and slaughterhouse operators, maintenance of facilities and returns might have some complications. The established facilities undeniably incurred a lot of expenditure and may have even caused a large debit. There is a chance to have a loss for its cost may not be able to be covered by next incomes, which may consequently be the cause of shutting-down of the entire enterprise.