LPT 312: Abattoir Practices and Animal Products Technology (1+1)

ASSESSMENT OF UNCONSCIOUSNESS AT SLAUGHTER

• In the act of slaughter it is essential that a state of unconsciousness or insensibility be instantaneously produced to ensure total freedom from suffering, this being further ensured by immediate exsanguination.
• Where cardiac arrest has been created there is an almost immediate insensibility, which is permanent.
• The discovery that adequate bleeding ensues despite cardiac dysfunction in this method makes this a most important development in the slaughter of animals.
• It has been always thought that a beating heart was necessary for proper bleeding, but this has been discounted provided sticking is performed soon afterwards.