Slaughter and Carcass Dressing Flashcards
Define Killing
killing’ means any intentionally induced process which causes the death of an animal;
Define Animal
‘animal’ means any vertebrate animal, excluding reptiles and amphibians;
Define Emergency Killing
‘emergency killing’ means the killing of animals which are injured or have a disease associated with severe pain or suffering and where there is no other practical possibility to alleviate this pain or suffering;
Define stunning
‘stunning’ means any intentionally induced process which causes loss of consciousness and sensibility without pain,
What activities in an abattoir require a certificate of competence?
• Certificate of competence required to: handle animals; stun animals; pith animals; restrain animals; shackle animals; hoist animals; bleed live animals; check stunning has worked; check pithing has worked.
What are the aims of stunning?
Kill humanely;
• Obtain the maximum amount of blood from the animal - increases keeping quality;
• Health and safety.
What can a non penetrative captive bolt be used for
o Non-penetrative captive bolt:
For simple stunning on cattle, sheep, goats and deer (ruminants) under 10 kg.
Describe the physiological effects of captive bolt stunning
- Heavy blow = acceleration of head = brain impact (physical damage).
- Damage to nerves and blood vessels.
- Massive rise then fall in pressure.
- Disruption of normal electrical activity.
- Duration depends on severity of damage.
Describe the three phases post captive bolt stunning
- Tonic phase = 10-20 seconds.
- Animal collapses.
- Stops breathing.
- Becomes rigid.
- Head extended/hind legs flexed.
- Forelegs gradually straighten out.
- Clonic phase - involuntary kicking.
- Relaxation - walking/paddling movements.
Define electronarcosis
Passing an electric current through the brain so as to stun the animal
Describe two factors that affect electronarcosis
Voltage
• Low voltage systems = 7 secs application
• High voltage systems = 3 secs application.
Spread
– head only = ? reversible
– head to body = cardiac arrest = irreversible
Describe an eleptiform fit and how you would assess for stunning.
Epileptiform Fit - Electronarcosis
• Unconscious and insensible to pain.
• TONIC: rigid, breathing stops, head raised, hind legs flexed.
• CLONIC: gradual relaxation, walking/paddling movements, downward rotation of eyes, foaming/urination.
• RECOVERY (quiehe t) - regain consciousness.
• NO TONIC = NO STUN
Describe the high conc CO2 stunning method
– The minimum concentration is 80% carbon dioxide. Exposure of conscious pigs to the gas must lead to anoxia (loss of oxygen to the brain).
– Pigs must not enter the gas stunner if the carbon dioxide concentration by volume falls below 80%.
– A pig must be conveyed to the maximum concentration of gas within 30 seconds of entering the stunner.
Describe the CO2 and inert gasses stunning method
• Carbon dioxide mixed with inert gases.
– Pigs must be exposed directly or progressively to a gas mixture containing up to 40% of carbon dioxide mixed with inert gases.
– The maximum concentration is 40% carbon dioxide. Direct or progressive exposure of conscious pigs to the gas must lead to anoxia
Describe the inert gasses stunning method
– Pigs must be exposed directly or progressively to an inert gas mixture such as argon or nitrogen. This exposure must lead to anoxia.
Describe the dictation of the slaughter of animals act 1980
Slaughter of Animals Act 1980
“every animal slaughtered in a slaughterhouse or knackers yard shall be instantaneously slaughtered or shall be rendered insensible to pain until death supervenes and such slaughtering shall be carried out by licensed persons using a mechanically operated instrument in a proper state of repair of a type approve by the ……”
Give three advantages of gas
- No excitement.
- Completely relaxed: easy bleeding.
- Intensified respiration: better bleeding.
Give two disadvantages of gas
• Very expensive - only used for large throughputs
• Welfare doubts:
– Acidic gas is pungent to inhale at > 40%.
– Potent respiratory stimulant: breathlessness.
– Not instantaneous
Describe the process of bleeding including the pint at which it is done and methods
Bleeding
• During tonic phase.
• Neck cut = carotids and jugulars (small ruminants).
• Thoracic stick = ascending aorta.
List the processes that follow bleeding in the carcass dressing process
Bleeding Dehiding Head removal Scalding Dehairing (pig) Singing (Pig) Polishing (pig) Evisceration Splitting Washing Weighing Deboning
Describe singing
Used on Pigs
- Eliminates remaining hair on the surface of the carcass
- 1000 degrees
- Improves meat quality and food safety
Describe polishing
- Improves quality
- Eliminates burned hair and superficial epidermis
- Some minor damage if excessive force used
- Increased contamination
(only in pigs)
Describe the EU health mark
EU Health Mark
• It shows that the food has been produced to the current standards of hygienic food production in licensed premises and allow food to be traced back to those premises.
Who controls third country approval?
• The European Commission’s Directorate-General (DG) for Health and Food Safety: Directorate ‘Health and Food Audits and Analysis’
What is involved in the formal request submitted for third party approval ?
– Type of animal/product
– Anticipated volume of trade and main importing EU countries,
– Class of animals
– Description of minimum treatment
– Number and type of establishments considered to meet EU requirements,
Describe the process of achieving third party approval
- Commission acknowledges request and sends the relevant pre-mission questionnaire.
- National authority submits completed questionnaire.
- Bilateral contacts between the national authorities and the Commission to resolve outstanding issues.
- If the Commission is satisfied with the information provided, an on-the-spot inspection is (in most cases) organised by the Directorate.
- Following completion of the Directorate inspection, a copy of its report is sent to the national authorities, the relevant Commission services, the European Parliament and the Member States.
- Commission prepares draft legislation:
– to add the third country to the list of third countries from which imports of the animal/product are approved;
– to draw up if necessary animal health certification based on the country or part of the country’s health situation to accompany imports, (a number of model health certificates are already laid down in Community legislation);
– to approve the residues monitoring programme;
– to set up an initial list of approved establishments. - The proposed legislative texts are adopted by the Commission, and published in the Official Journal.
- If an implementation date is not specified in the legislative text then it will be the date of official notification of the text by the Commission to Member States.
