Humane slaughter

Question 1

Amps for electrical stunning

Answer 1

1.3A pigs
1A sheep
0.6A lambs
105mA broilers
150 mA turkeys
130mA ducks/geese

About 200V for sheep

Question 2

How long does CO2 anaesthetic take in pigs

Answer 2

One cycle takes 90 seconds, but anaesthesia takes 7 seconds

Question 3

Percentage gases used for controlled atmosphere killing

Answer 3

Max 2% O2
30% CO2

Need 10s exposure

Question 4

When do you stick?

Answer 4

10-15 sec after stun

In turkeys wait 120 seconds before further processing, 90sec in broilers, 20sec until dressing sheep, 30 sec in cattle

Question 5

How long can birds be shackled for

Answer 5

Turkeys max 3 mins
Broilers max 2 mins

Question 6

Permitted methods of stunning

Answer 6

Mechanical (percussive)
Electrical
Exposure to gas mixtures

Question 7

Humane

Answer 7

Benevolent, compassionate
Inflicting the minimum amount of pain

Question 8

Stunning under council regulations

Answer 8

Stunning means any intentionally induced process which causes loss of consciousness and sensibility without pain, including any process resulting in instantaneous death

Simple stunning - not resulting in instantaneous death

Question 9

Physical signs of an effective stun

Answer 9

Animal collapses immediately and stops breathing

Front legs and neck extended with hind legs flexed into the lower abdomen

A fixed, glazed expression in the eyes

No corneal reflex (blinking of the eye)

Relaxed lower jaw with tongue hanging out

Question 10

Pithing

Answer 10

Eu only used to kill bovines, ovines, and caprines, NOT destined for human or animal consumption)

Laceration/destruction of the hind-brain, brainstem, and upper spinal cord

Achieved by inserting a flexible rod, cane, or other through the bolt hole, pushing it down through the foramen magnum, and thrusting it back and forth a number of times

Effective, but aesthetically unpleasant

Question 11

Electrical stunning equipment

Answer 11

Low voltage (up to 150 volts output): head only tongs (pigs and sheep)

High voltage (200+ volts output): head only tongs (pigs and sheep), head-to-body stun/kill (pigs and sheep), fully automatic (pigs and cattle)

Question 12

Phases of an electrical stun

Answer 12

Tonic
Clonic
Recovery

Question 13

Tonic phase

Answer 13

○ Animal collapses and becomes rigid
○ No rhythmic breathing
○ Head is raised
○ Forelegs extended and hindlegs flexed into the body

Question 14

Clonic phase

Answer 14

○ Gradual relaxation of muscles
○ Paddling or involuntary kicking (can be severe at times)
○ Downward movement of eyeballs
○ Urination and/or defecation

Question 15

Recovery phase

Answer 15

○ Resumption of normal rhythmic breathing
○ Response to painful stimuli
○ Becomes visually aware
○ Attempts to stand

Question 16

Gas used in stunning mixtures

Answer 16

○ Argon
○ Nitrogen
○ Carbon dioxide

Question 17

Bleeding (exsanguination

Answer 17

Kills the animal by causing hypoxia (lack of oxygen in the brain), leading to anoxia (abscence of oxygen in the brain)

Effected by severing the major blood vessels in the neck (carotid arteries), or the vessels from which they arise (brachiocephalic trunk)

Timeliness of bleeding (sticking) is of paramount importance

Must be carried out without delay after simple stunning - within 15 seconds

Animals killed by stun/kill methods, but intended for human or animal consumption must be bled, although timeliness is not as important from a welfare point of view

Delayed sticking will result in a poorer bleed out and compromise meat quality

Question 18

Welfare of Animals at the Time of Killing (WATOK) 2015

Answer 18

Does not include reptiles and amphibians

Anyone slaughtering or killing an animal needs a Certificate of Competence (CoC) or a WATOK License

Some exemptions, including vets

Question 19

Neck dislocation of poultry

Answer 19

Manual only on birds less than 3kg and limited to 70 birds/person/day

Mechanical only on birds less than 5kg