L19&L20: Welfare at stunning and slaughter of red and white meat species Flashcards
What was used to stun animals before a captive bolt stunner?
Poleaxe
What can you use for slaughter in hard to reach areas?
Mobile slaughter unit
What is used to stun poultry?
Cash poultry killer
How do fish stunning machines work?
Percussive blow to the head
What is used to kill day-old chicks?
Argon machines
What 4 things must humane slaughter be?
Painless, instant, no avoidable distress, no perception of impending death
In order of most-least, which animals are slaughtered in the UK?
Chickens, fish, sheep, pigs, cattle
How many animals are killed per second in the UK?
32
What are the three permitted methods of stunning?
Mechanical (percussive), electrical, gas mixtures
When is bleeding necessary after stunning?
If carcase is for consumption
Why does stunning include anything causing instant death?
Stunning = loss of consciousness and sensibility
What is the difference in “simple stunning”?
Does not result in instant death
Why is percussive stunning only temporary?
Causes concussion
Why do captive bolts require pitting/bleeding?
Only stun, not kill
Whch animals can cause problems during captive-bolt stunning?
Aged, especially pigs and horned sheep
Are captive bolts classed as firearms?
Yes
What are the 6 signs of an effective stun?
Collapses immediately and stops breathing, front legs and neck extended, hind legs flexed into lower abdomen, fixed expression, no corneal reflex, relaxed lower jaw with tongue out
Which are the only animals you can do pithing on?
Not destined for human or animal consumption
What species can you use head-only tongs and head-to-body stun/kill equipment on?
Pigs and sheep
Which voltages can head-only tongs be?
Low or high
Which species can you use fully automatic stun equipment on?
Pigs and cattle
Which voltages can fully automatic and head-to-body stun/kill equipment be?
High only
What are the three stages of an electric stun?
Tonic, clonic, recovery
How long does the tonic phase last?
5-20s
What 4 things happen during the tonic phase?
Collapses and become rigid, no rhythmic breathing, head raised, forelegs extended and hindlegs flexed
What are four signs of the clonic phase?
Gradual muscle relaxation, paddling/kicking, downward eyeballs, urination/defecation
How long does recovery take?
60-90s
What are four signs of the recovery phase?
Normal breathing, response to painful stimuli, visually aware, attempts to stand
What is the problem with cutting the carotid/jugular?
Too slow - recovery may have already started
What is the advantage of chest sticking?
Faster
What has been used to anaesthetise pigs since the 1950s?
CO2
What is the use of gas to stun pigs known as?
Controlled atmosphere stunning
How long does it take for pigs to become unconscious on CO2?
15s
What gases can you use to stun pigs?
Argon, nitrogen, CO2
Which species is CO2 used in?
Pigs and poultry
What concentration CO2 is used?
90% and above
What is excitation period like for CO2 stunning?
Slow
What kind of carcase do you get after CO2 stun?
Relaxed
What is an advantage and disadvantage of CO2 stunning?
High quality meat but high capital investment
What is LAPS?
Low atmosphere pressure stunning
How does LAPS work?
Vacuum pump reduces O2 tension to cause progressive anoxia
After how long is EEG activity totally suppressed in LAPS?
60s
How long is the carcase insensible in LAPS?
40s
What happens to the animal during LAPS?
Heart rate decreases, then ataxia, then convulsions
Is insensitivity before or after convulsions in LAPS?
Before
Which arteries are severed during slaughter?
Carotid or brachiocephalic trunk
How soon must bleeding be done?
15 seconds
What happens if sticking is delayed?
Compromises meat quality
What weight birds can have manual dislocation?
Less than 3kg
How many birds per day can one person neck?
70
Which weight birds can have mechanical dislocation?
Less than 5kg
How soon must emergency killing be done?
ASAP
What 4 things must be present in an abattoir?
SOPs, slaughter licenses, CCTV, Animal Welfare Officer
Which abattoirs don’t need an AWO?
Less than 1000 units per year
How long is grandfather rights for certificates of competence?
Three years
Which certificates does the animal welfare officer need?
Certificates of competence for the operations they oversee
In what 4 situations do slaughter regulations not apply?
Scientific experiments, hunting/recreation, cultural/sporting events, poultry/rabbits/hares slaughtered for consumption by their owner
