Welfare abattoir Flashcards
Why are vets involved with abattoirs?
Why are vets involved with abattoirs?
- antemortem inspection (live animal) post mortem inspections -ensure slaughter is conducted with leat amount of suffering as possible
- ensure there is minimal stress
- export plant must have a vet onsite
Explain the 2 types of stun methods
2 types of stun methods
- non-reversible penetration captive bolt shooting
- free bullet
prolonged CO2
-reversible (usually suitable for Halal) pneumatic non-penetrating, percussion stunner head only electrical stunning (heart is not affected) limited time exposure to CO2
For Non-penetrating percussive state
- defintion
- factors of effectiveness
- when not to use it
Non-Penetrating percussive; sharp, heavy blow correctly applied to the skull produces a rapid acceleration of head causes the brain to hit against the inside of the skull and concussion insensibility
-effectiveness= postion and velocity (size and kinetic energy) can’t do more than 2 attempts not suitable for mature bulls or hose with big horns
Discuss the importance of interpretation as a vet
Interpretation; it might be wrong to simply take 1 aspect of an animal’s reaction following stunning and interpret it without looking @ other signs -you may have to look at a no. of things in order to correctly interpret
Explain the following signs
- grasping
- rhythmic breathing
- vocalisation
- kicking
- eyes
- beating heart
Signs -grasping doesn’t indicate consciousness but maybe 1st sign that brain is reorganising after stunning
- Rhythmic breathing -vocalisation indicates consciousness, there can be false vocalisation
- kicking; can represent consciousness, also seen in effective stunning, may simply reflect loss of spinal inhibition kicking doesn’t mean shit
- eyes; absence blinking is bases on lost sensory and motor qualities is a reliable sign of anaesthesia
- repeated spontaneous blinking -rolled back or vibrating eyes
- if focused eye movements present animals is conscious
- beating heart will continue to beat after the brain is dead until it runs out of O2
For the following stages of the abattoir explain them; loading (vets job) effects of visible conditions assisting the loading unloading
-Loading; vet will report any breeches once the animal arrive at the abattoir -visible conditions; which could cause any further pain or suffering during transport, DON’T send it -assisting the loading (objects and environment) -unloading (with emergency slaughters they are killed on the truck e.g broken leg)
What is the law of vocalising
no more than 3% of vocalising in cattle and 10% in pigs should be observed
List some welfare issues seen at antemortem inspection
welfare issues seen at antemortem inspection -segration -horns -ingrown horns -squamous cell carcinoma -large growth on body -large abscesses on head -calving -animal too stressed to move
Discuss the sticking interval
sticking technique used after a reversible stun all animals should be subject to a second killing steps -bled effectively by cutting both carotid arteries or cutting the vessel from which they arise pitching time is crucial
Discuss neck sticks (2 types)
Neck sticking
- trauma to carotids ; partial sealing and haemorrhage into arterial sheath
- collateral arterial blood supply in cattle; cut carotids and the vertebral arteries (behind the ear)
What is pithing
Pithing; destroy the brain and brain with a rod
What occurs after an effective mechanical stunning
effective mechanical stunning; animal collapses immediately eyes are fixed no corneal reflex no rhythmic breathing - floppy head -straight back -no right reflex -tail lies down flat when spinal reflexes stop
Where would you find information on how to audit welfare at an abattoir and what is fit to send to the abattoir?
Where would you find information on how to audit welfare at an abattoir?
-QLD compulsory code of practice for land transport of livestock
national guide to the pre-transport selection and management of livestock is for determining the fitness of livestock to travel
Industry animal welfare standards is for duty of care for welfare done by the abattoir FOA and industry standards for handling and slaughter
-primary industries standin commitee model code of practice for the welfare of animals is for unloading, movement through ones, slaughtering, bleeding etc.
Where would you find information on correct facilities at an abattoir?
FYI. standard 2: design and maintenance of facilities and equipment
What would you typically see during the tonic phase of a post-electric stun?
tonic phase (10-12 sec) -immediate collapse -no rhythmic breathing -head raised -forelegs extend, hind legs tucked into body -no corneal reflex -fixed, fully dilated pupil
What is this tool called?
Where do you aim when using a captive bolt for a horse, pig, goat, sheep and cow
What is this tool called
Where do you aim when sticking a pig and cow
