Stunning & Slaughter Flashcards
(26 cards)
What is a lead animal?
An animal placed strategically near to the path that you want your animals to go down- encourages the animals to walk forwards
What are the four main stunning methods used?
Penetrative captive bolt
Non Penetrative captive bolt
Gas stunning
Electrical
What can be used as slaughter methods? (6)
Neck cutting
Decapitation
Neck dislocation
Free bullet
Maceration (grinder e.g. in chicks)
Gas stunning
Can you slaughter animals using captive bolt?
NO- not for meat producing animals as a killing method- must only be used for stunning
What is LAPS in terms of stunning?
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
What are the signs of an effective captive bolt stun? (4)
- immediate collapse with the hindlegs flexed
- tonic body spasms
- relaxed jaw and no palpebral reflex
- convulsive kicking in the clonic phase
How does shooting position vary in cows/pigs versus sheep?
Cows/ Pigs- in temporal- cross between eyes and ears
Sheep- Top of head through the middle of the horns
When would we use non penetrative versus penetrative captive bolt?
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
How does a free bullet work as a killing procedure?
Shot close range- high mass, low velocity- knock the device on the animals head to detonate the blasting cap and fire the bullet
What are the pros and cons of electrical stunning in the spine?
Pros- Provides quick paralysis
Cons- can cause spinal fractures and damage to the loin cuts of meat
How does electrical stunning work?
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)
What electrical stunning is permitted for halal slaughter?
Head only (no spinal stun)
What is the recommended minimum currents for head electrical stunning in pigs?
1.30Amps
What is the recommended minimum currents for head electric stunning in Sheep?
1.00Amps
What is the recommended minimum currents for head electric stunning in Cows?
In calves- 1.25Amps
In cows- 1.28Amps
The electric stunner is placed behind the ears and the current is appropriate but stunning has been less effective than the previous animal- why?
This animal has more wool or dry skin behind the ears making stunning less effective
How long is the duration of unconsciousness with head only electrical stunning?
anywhere from 40-70 seconds
What are the pros and cons of a higher stun frequency in waterbaths?
Pros- less convulsive activity at higher frequencies so better quality carcasses
Cons- as frequency increases the duration of the stun decreases
A chicken has undergone the stunning procedure- it emerges from the conveyor belt flapping its wings- has it been effectively stunned?
Unsure- flapping is not a good indicator of effective stunning so check reflexes instead
What time window do you have from stunning to bleeding before the chicken regains consciousness?
4 seconds
What is a redneck chicken?
a chicken that wasn’t dead at scalding so the blood pools to the head
What species is controlled atmospheric stunning used? (2)
Pigs & poultry
What are the three methods to CAS?
CO2 at high conc
CO2 two phase
CO2 with inert gas e.g. N & Ar (only for day old chicks)
What are the pros and cons of using CAS with CO2?
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
