Humane slaughter Flashcards

1
Q

Amps for electrical stunning

A

1.3A pigs
1A sheep
0.6A lambs
105mA broilers
150 mA turkeys
130mA ducks/geese

About 200V for sheep

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2
Q

How long does CO2 anaesthetic take in pigs

A

One cycle takes 90 seconds, but anaesthesia takes 7 seconds

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3
Q

Percentage gases used for controlled atmosphere killing

A

Max 2% O2
30% CO2

Need 10s exposure

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4
Q

When do you stick?

A

10-15 sec after stun

In turkeys wait 120 seconds before further processing, 90sec in broilers, 20sec until dressing sheep, 30 sec in cattle

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5
Q

How long can birds be shackled for

A

Turkeys max 3 mins
Broilers max 2 mins

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6
Q

Permitted methods of stunning

A

Mechanical (percussive)
Electrical
Exposure to gas mixtures

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7
Q

Humane

A

Benevolent, compassionate
Inflicting the minimum amount of pain

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8
Q

Stunning under council regulations

A

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

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9
Q

Physical signs of an effective stun

A

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

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10
Q

Pithing

A

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

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11
Q

Electrical stunning equipment

A

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)

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12
Q

Phases of an electrical stun

A

Tonic
Clonic
Recovery

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13
Q

Tonic phase

A

○ Animal collapses and becomes rigid
○ No rhythmic breathing
○ Head is raised
○ Forelegs extended and hindlegs flexed into the body

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14
Q

Clonic phase

A

○ Gradual relaxation of muscles
○ Paddling or involuntary kicking (can be severe at times)
○ Downward movement of eyeballs
○ Urination and/or defecation

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15
Q

Recovery phase

A

○ Resumption of normal rhythmic breathing
○ Response to painful stimuli
○ Becomes visually aware
○ Attempts to stand

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16
Q

Gas used in stunning mixtures

A

○ Argon
○ Nitrogen
○ Carbon dioxide

17
Q

Bleeding (exsanguination

A

Kills the animal by causing hypoxia (lack of oxygen in the brain), leading to anoxia (abscence of oxygen in the brain)

Effected by severing the major blood vessels in the neck (carotid arteries), or the vessels from which they arise (brachiocephalic trunk)

Timeliness of bleeding (sticking) is of paramount importance

Must be carried out without delay after simple stunning - within 15 seconds

Animals killed by stun/kill methods, but intended for human or animal consumption must be bled, although timeliness is not as important from a welfare point of view

Delayed sticking will result in a poorer bleed out and compromise meat quality

18
Q

Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing (WATOK) 2015

A

Does not include reptiles and amphibians

Anyone slaughtering or killing an animal needs a Certificate of Competence (CoC) or a WATOK License

Some exemptions, including vets

19
Q

Neck dislocation of poultry

A

Manual only on birds less than 3kg and limited to 70 birds/person/day

Mechanical only on birds less than 5kg