Humane slaughter Flashcards
Amps for electrical stunning
1.3A pigs
1A sheep
0.6A lambs
105mA broilers
150 mA turkeys
130mA ducks/geese
About 200V for sheep
How long does CO2 anaesthetic take in pigs
One cycle takes 90 seconds, but anaesthesia takes 7 seconds
Percentage gases used for controlled atmosphere killing
Max 2% O2
30% CO2
Need 10s exposure
When do you stick?
10-15 sec after stun
In turkeys wait 120 seconds before further processing, 90sec in broilers, 20sec until dressing sheep, 30 sec in cattle
How long can birds be shackled for
Turkeys max 3 mins
Broilers max 2 mins
Permitted methods of stunning
Mechanical (percussive)
Electrical
Exposure to gas mixtures
Humane
Benevolent, compassionate
Inflicting the minimum amount of pain
Stunning under council regulations
Stunning means any intentionally induced process which causes loss of consciousness and sensibility without pain, including any process resulting in instantaneous death
Simple stunning - not resulting in instantaneous death
Physical signs of an effective stun
Animal collapses immediately and stops breathing
Front legs and neck extended with hind legs flexed into the lower abdomen
A fixed, glazed expression in the eyes
No corneal reflex (blinking of the eye)
Relaxed lower jaw with tongue hanging out
Pithing
Eu only used to kill bovines, ovines, and caprines, NOT destined for human or animal consumption)
Laceration/destruction of the hind-brain, brainstem, and upper spinal cord
Achieved by inserting a flexible rod, cane, or other through the bolt hole, pushing it down through the foramen magnum, and thrusting it back and forth a number of times
Effective, but aesthetically unpleasant
Electrical stunning equipment
Low voltage (up to 150 volts output): head only tongs (pigs and sheep)
High voltage (200+ volts output): head only tongs (pigs and sheep), head-to-body stun/kill (pigs and sheep), fully automatic (pigs and cattle)
Phases of an electrical stun
Tonic
Clonic
Recovery
Tonic phase
○ Animal collapses and becomes rigid
○ No rhythmic breathing
○ Head is raised
○ Forelegs extended and hindlegs flexed into the body
Clonic phase
○ Gradual relaxation of muscles
○ Paddling or involuntary kicking (can be severe at times)
○ Downward movement of eyeballs
○ Urination and/or defecation
Recovery phase
○ Resumption of normal rhythmic breathing
○ Response to painful stimuli
○ Becomes visually aware
○ Attempts to stand