Stunning & Slaughter

Question 1

What is a lead animal?

Answer 1

An animal placed strategically near to the path that you want your animals to go down- encourages the animals to walk forwards

Question 2

What are the four main stunning methods used?

Answer 2

Penetrative captive bolt
Non Penetrative captive bolt
Gas stunning
Electrical

Question 3

What can be used as slaughter methods? (6)

Answer 3

Neck cutting
Decapitation
Neck dislocation
Free bullet
Maceration (grinder e.g. in chicks)
Gas stunning

Question 4

Can you slaughter animals using captive bolt?

Answer 4

NO- not for meat producing animals as a killing method- must only be used for stunning

Question 5

What is LAPS in terms of stunning?

Answer 5

Low atmospheric pressure stunning- animal is placed in a sealed chamber, and the atmospheric pressure is reduced. This results in the removal of oxygen in the air thereby causing unconsciousness and death by hypoxia (lack of oxygen

Question 6

What are the signs of an effective captive bolt stun? (4)

Answer 6

• immediate collapse with the hindlegs flexed
• tonic body spasms
• relaxed jaw and no palpebral reflex
• convulsive kicking in the clonic phase

Question 7

How does shooting position vary in cows/pigs versus sheep?

Answer 7

Cows/ Pigs- in temporal- cross between eyes and ears
Sheep- Top of head through the middle of the horns

Question 8

When would we use non penetrative versus penetrative captive bolt?

Answer 8

Non penetrative used more in neonates and younger animals but older animals require penetrative because 1. its illegal to use non penetrative and 2. because penetrative is more effective because it causes more trauma

Question 9

How does a free bullet work as a killing procedure?

Answer 9

Shot close range- high mass, low velocity- knock the device on the animals head to detonate the blasting cap and fire the bullet

Question 10

What are the pros and cons of electrical stunning in the spine?

Answer 10

Pros- Provides quick paralysis
Cons- can cause spinal fractures and damage to the loin cuts of meat

Question 11

How does electrical stunning work?

Answer 11

produces brain dysfunction and unconsciousness by causing a rapid depolarisation of the membrane potentials of the nerves in the brain resulting in synchronized activity (like epilepsy)

Question 12

What electrical stunning is permitted for halal slaughter?

Answer 12

Head only (no spinal stun)

Question 13

What is the recommended minimum currents for head electrical stunning in pigs?

Answer 13

1.30Amps

Question 14

What is the recommended minimum currents for head electric stunning in Sheep?

Answer 14

1.00Amps

Question 15

What is the recommended minimum currents for head electric stunning in Cows?

Answer 15

In calves- 1.25Amps
In cows- 1.28Amps

Question 16

The electric stunner is placed behind the ears and the current is appropriate but stunning has been less effective than the previous animal- why?

Answer 16

This animal has more wool or dry skin behind the ears making stunning less effective

Question 17

How long is the duration of unconsciousness with head only electrical stunning?

Answer 17

anywhere from 40-70 seconds

Question 18

What are the pros and cons of a higher stun frequency in waterbaths?

Answer 18

Pros- less convulsive activity at higher frequencies so better quality carcasses
Cons- as frequency increases the duration of the stun decreases

Question 19

A chicken has undergone the stunning procedure- it emerges from the conveyor belt flapping its wings- has it been effectively stunned?

Answer 19

Unsure- flapping is not a good indicator of effective stunning so check reflexes instead

Question 20

What time window do you have from stunning to bleeding before the chicken regains consciousness?

Answer 20

4 seconds

Question 21

What is a redneck chicken?

Answer 21

a chicken that wasn’t dead at scalding so the blood pools to the head

Question 22

What species is controlled atmospheric stunning used? (2)

Answer 22

Pigs & poultry

Question 23

What are the three methods to CAS?

Answer 23

CO2 at high conc
CO2 two phase
CO2 with inert gas e.g. N & Ar (only for day old chicks)

Question 24

What are the pros and cons of using CAS with CO2?

Answer 24

advantages- no handling so improved product quality
disadvantages- high capital costs and can cause respiratory distress as well as delayed time to loss of consciousness

Question 25

When might cervical neck dislocation be used?

Answer 25

on birds under 5kg (mechanical)
or on birds under 3kg if manual dislocation

Question 26

What is Puntilla?

Answer 26

stab to the back of the neck to sever the spinal cord at the first vertebrae to immobilise the animal prior to slaughter