4. Stunning by Using Mechanical Devices

STUNNING BY USING MECHANICAL DEVICES

          In course of newer inventions and sophistications in stunning devices, the following methods which were in practice in early days were obsolete now-a-days. Moreover, to the provisions of animal welfare some of the methods were  considered to be more inhumane and cannot be permitted as a part of humane slaughter in the form of animal stunning.

Hammer mallet or club

  • In some cases a hammer does stunning.
  • In the case of small animals, a mallet or club is used.
  • These are not advocated for the following reasons.
  • A hard blow on the head with a hammer may kill the animal outright but a clumsy workman may require repeated blows to attain his purpose.

Pole axe

  • This is extensively used in Scotland in the hands of really expert operator.
  • It is astonishing to see how quickly the animal is killed and how seldom the aims missed.
  • That part of the weapon, which is the actual killing structure, is an elongated iron bar at the back of the axe, which is fixed in a strong wooden handle.
  • When properly used the instrument never fails to produce immediate unconsciousness in the animal.
  • The bore made by the penetrating portion is sufficiently large to admit the pithing rod and which is applied directly after the axe is withdrawn.
  • The head is secured and immovably fixed by after the rope to an iron ring in the wall.
  • After the pitching the animal is perfectly still and is immediately ready for bleeding.
  • Killing depends upon the accuracy of the arm.

The Gothenburg's swine killer

  • It is the most satisfactory method of rapidly dealing with the animal.
  • This is only a method of securing in a position where struggling is eliminated and the actual method of killing is not part of this invention.
  • It contains of an oblong iron chamber into which the pig enter directly from the yard through the wall, which is then closed from behind.
  • At the other end in the front wall, the pig puts its head and is then enable to withdraw when the chamber is closed.

The dutch pig trap

  • It is equally satisfactory for the same purpose, used in the principal abattoirs in Holland.
  • The principal is the same.

Neck stabbing

  • This is one method of slaughter largely used in Africa, India and Australia.
  • It consists essentially in dividing the spinal cord with a long sharp point knife, which is thrust into the neck of the animal between the first cervical vertebrae and the occipital.
  • This immediately renders the animal paralyzed, but does not immediately destroy consciousness.
  • Bleeding is done as soon as the animal falls down.
Last modified: Wednesday, 12 October 2011, 11:15 AM