Stunning 2

Question 1

Outline poultry slaughter

Answer 1

• legal minimum of 2 shackle sizes - captive bolt gun - pliers to dislocate head/neck (but you are essentially just crushing the neck) - cervical neck dislocation (continuous movement, flick at end, bird will convulse if done properly)

Question 2

T/F: if you use a high frequency stunning you must increase the current (poultry)

Answer 2

True

Question 3

Is waterbath stunning reversible? (poultry)

Answer 3

No

Question 4

Is head only stunning reversible? (poultry)

Answer 4

Yes

Question 5

Outline electidal stunning and slaughter of chickens

Answer 5

• time to loss of conscioussness after severance of both carotids (mean 13.9, range 8-26s) - waterbath stunning (mean 11.7s to return of breathing, mean 55s to return of neck tension) - requirement that both carotid arteries are cut

Question 6

Why is it difficult to cut the carotids in poultry?

Answer 6

Question 7

Why is is bad for welfare to cut spinal cord?

Answer 7

losing ability to see behavioural signs of recovery

Question 8

How to inspect birds at neck cutting?

Answer 8

• bird behaviour during bleeding - BVs that are cut - back-up neck cutting - birds are dead at scalding

Question 9

List common equipment faults

Answer 9

• broken transport crates not replaced/repaired - inadequate facilities for cooling birds on truck - pre-stun shocks on entry ramp - waterbath electrode doesn’t span length of bath - voltmeter and ammeter displays are inaccurate - neck cutter severs spinal cord, masking recovery of unconsciousness - neck cutter fails to sever major BVs

Question 10

Outline gas stunning/stun killing of pigs and poultry

Answer 10

• CO2 at high concentrations (irritating, can cause hyperventilation) - CO2 two phase (3 phases for stunning, induce convulsions, induce cardiac arrest) - CO2 with inert gas (N and Ar) - pigs: high CO2 concentration asap - poultry: rising CO2 concentration?

Question 11

What does a rising CO2 concentration cause?

Answer 11

respiratory distress

Question 12

Outline farmed fish slaughter methods

Answer 12

• percussive blow - electrical stunning - suffocation in air or ice (use another method) - good grade anaesthetics - CO2 - cutting of gills whilst conscious.

Question 13

What is puntilla?

Answer 13

• method of immobilisation - not stunning or slaughter - illegal in europe - knife inserted into back of neck to severe spinal cord - does not kill or render unconsciouss

Question 14

List religious slaughter methods

Answer 14

• schechita (Jewish) - halal (Islam) - jhatka (Sikhs, Hindus and Christians in India) - ogun

Question 15

Halal- method

Answer 15

• slaughterman must be muslim (any muslim)

Question 16

Who can perform schechita?

Answer 16

• stricter than halal - method and person - generally always Rabis (>6 years of training) - v sharp knife (particular kind) - if halal followed such strict rules, welfare would be improved (as anyone really can do halal)

Question 17

What are welfare issues associated with slaughter without stunning?

Answer 17

• stress and pain associated with restraint - pain form cut - distress associated with delays in time to loss of consciousness - distress from aspiration of blood into respiratory tract

Question 18

Outline laws on restraint during slaughter

Answer 18

UK _ restraint must be upright, can have excessive pressure –> suffering
Europe - can also use rotating (90 and 180 degrees). Can cause compressive of diaphragm on heart.

Question 19

In what species can occlusions and aneurysms form? Effect?

Answer 19

cattle (only documented species) –> causes increased time for loss of consciousness to occur

Question 20

T/F: a post-neck cut stun can reduce/stop brain activity

Answer 20

True (measured with EEG = electroencephalogram)