Stunning 1

Question 1

What is a V-restrainer?

Answer 1

For sheep On an incline Often used for Halal Belt moves animal forwards and feet are off floor. Animal moved to top where slaughterman is. Possible for electrical stunning. Unable to escape –> ensures right position

Question 2

Outline legally define stunning methods

Answer 2

• electrical - penetrative captive bolt - non-penetrative captive bolt - gas stunning

Question 3

Outline slaughter methods

Answer 3

= how to kill animal - sticking (severing vessels to brain - cutting throat or severing vessels coming off heart) or neck cutting - cardiac arrest - decapitation - neck dislocation (care - some animals still conscious after this) - free bullet - maceration (day old male chicks) - gas stunning (poultry)

Question 4

List euthanasia methods

Answer 4

• lethal injection - free bullet - penetrative captive bolt and pithing - anaesthetic inhalation - carbon dioxide - carbon monoxide - neck dislocation

Question 5

What should you always remember about mechanical abattoirs?

Answer 5

can always break down - animals stuck at all points

Question 6

What is pithing?

Answer 6

you introduce something into brain –> maceration (good for pigs as they convulse a lot - will stop the convulsions if brainstem fully destroyed). Animal CANNOT then be used for human consumption

Question 7

List stunning methods

Answer 7

• head only electrical stunning - percussive stunning - electrical waterbath stunning - gas stunning

Question 8

Outline captive bolt

Answer 8

• mainly cattle - sometimes sheep, calves, horses - severe convulsions in pigs (not used) - instantaneous unconsciousness and usually irreversible when applied correctly - source of energy (cartridges, compressed air) - if aim is slightly out of line, animal will not collapse or start to recover

Question 9

Outline licensing of captive bolt gun use

Answer 9

• No firearms license required for vets (even with gunpowder type) - elective in final year (animal welfare and ethics - you can practice on cadavers) - Vets (graduated) allowed to use a captive bolt gun - Non-vets need home office licence or slaughtering license. General public can use any method to relieve suffering

Question 10

Signs of effective captive bolt stun

Answer 10

• imediate collapse with HL flexed - tonic body spasm - immediate loss of normal rhythmic breathing - immediate loss of corneal and palpebral reflex - no eyeball rotation (eyeball rotation is a good sign for slaughter WITHOUT stunning) - relaxed jaw - no righting reflex (associated with other coordinated movements) - convulsive kicking (clonic phase, good sign, looks like running on ground, shooting inhibits descending control on cerebral cortex –> violent kicking. If no kicking, it is a sign to slaughter again)

Question 11

Describe the shooting position for bovines

Answer 11

• crossover b/w eyes and horns - shoot down towards brainstem

Question 12

Describe shooting position for pigs

Answer 12

• forehead - 2cm up from eyes - aim for tail to get brainstem - some pigs have flat faces/different shapes - pigs have solid frontal bones (don’t shoot if >60kg, use a shotgun) - not effective as convulse a lot

Question 13

Describe shooting position for sheep

Answer 13

• top of head - angle to base of jaw - HORNED: tilt position of gun - POLLED: shoot at highest point of head

Question 14

Describe shooting position for horses

Answer 14

• crossover b/w eyes and ears then shoot 2cm above this crossover.

Question 15

Outline electrical stunning

Answer 15

• head only electrical stunning –> brain dysfunction and unconsciousness - electrical stun causes rapid depolarisation of the membrane potentials of the nn of the brain –> synchronised activity - EEG waveform similar to grand mal waveform (human epilepsy) - human epilepsy is an abnormal brain state which is incompatbible with continued consciousness - seizures or convulsions accompany epileptic states but aren’t reliable indicators

Question 16

2 methods of electrical stunning

Answer 16

• head only - head to body (–> cardiac arrest, reduces likelihood of recovery)

Question 17

What is the legal minimum current for head only electrical stunning?

Answer 17

• PIGS 1.3A - Sheep 1.00A - calves (1.25A) - cattle (1.28A)

Question 18

Describe electrode position

Answer 18

• performance depends on position and current - stunning less effective with presence of wool and dry skin or when stunning is caudally behind ears

Question 19

What is the duration of unconsciousness with head-only electrical stunning

Answer 19

• most animals 60-70 seconds - in fastest recovering animals 37-45 seconds - animals must be bled promptly to prevent fastest recovering animal from regaining

Question 20

How long does brain death occur after electrically induced cardiac arrest?

Answer 20

28 seconds

Question 21

Describe time to brain death with head only stun + sticking

Answer 21

• head only stun to sticking must be no more than 23 seconds - then 14 seconds later –> brain death

Question 22

What BVs must be cut?

Answer 22

carotid arteries essential

Question 23

How long does it take to loose brain responsiveness if both carotids and jugulars are cut?

Answer 23

14 s +/- 1

Question 24

How long does it take for brain to loose consciousness if one carotid and one jugular are cut?

Answer 24

70 s +/- 1

Question 25

How long does it take for brain to loose consciousness if no carotids and both jugulars are cut?

Answer 25

almost 5 minutes!! (emphasises the importance of cutting the jugulars)