The document discusses various methods of animal slaughter, differentiating between 'slaughter' for food and 'killing' as an unethical act. It outlines humane slaughter practices, religious methods, and different stunning techniques including mechanical, chemical, and electrical methods, emphasizing the importance of minimizing animal distress. Additionally, it details regulations from the Humane Slaughter Act in the USA and the specific procedures for ritual slaughters such as Jhatka and Shechita.

1. METHODS OF
SLAUGHTER
G.SUNDARESAN
MVM15026

2. Definition
Slaughter vs. killing
Slaughter:
ending the life of the animal for food
or meat purpose(dictionary meaning).
Slaughter is performed by the authorized or
licensed person.
Killing:
unethical or violent ending the life of the
animal

3. Ways of slaughter
 Acceptable way
 Unacceptable way
Acceptable way
slaughtering the animal with less distress
Unacceptable way
animals suffers with pain before slaughter
“There is no nice way to kill the animals”

4. Methods of slaughter
 Humane slaughter
 Religious slaughter

5. Humane slaughter
According to the RSPCA definition “an animal must
be either killed instantly or rendered insensible to pain until
death supervenes”
It means make the animal insensible to the pain prior to
bleeding out
The humane slaughter comprises of humane stunning
and bleeding, skinning, quartering the food animals.

6. What is humane?
person who shows great compassion and caring of
others including animals.
Simply –mercy or kindness
Humane killing should meet
•Death without pain or distress
•Instant unconscious followed by death without regaining
conscious
•Minimal detrimental effect on operator or observer

7. Humane slaughter act (USA)
 Humane methods of slaughtering are specifically stated in 7
USCS § 1902. The section reads as follows
 Either of the following two methods of slaughtering and
handling are hereby found to be humane:
a) In the case of cattle, calves, horses, mules, sheep, swine,
and other livestock, all animals are rendered insensible
to pain by a single blow or gunshot or an electrical,
chemical or other means that is rapid and effective,
before being shackled, hoisted, thrown, cast, or cut.

8. b) By slaughtering in accordance with the ritual
requirements of the Jewish faith or any other
religious faith that prescribes a method of slaughter
whereby the animal suffers loss of consciousness
by anemia of the brain caused by the simultaneous
and instantaneous severance of the carotid arteries
with a sharp instrument and handling in connection
with such slaughtering.

9. STUNNING
The act of making the animal unconscious
(ideally within 200 milliseconds)
or insensible to pain while killing, slaughtering or
sticking to minimize stress, distress or pain
But not In case of Religious method of slaughter
(JEWISH and MUSLIM ( Ritual ) methods)
AIM:
1.To induce immediate state of insensibility
2.Produce sufficient immobility to facilitate sticking
process and initiate bleeding

10. Stages of stunning
 It is two stage process,
First stage:
making the animal insensible to pain by stunning
Second stage:
Exsanguination and renders the loss of
consciousness an irreversible process
 The above said phenomenon depends on
1. Interval between Stunning and sticking
2. Efficiency of sticking
 For stunning to be effective the animals should be
restrained and secured properly.

11. Criterion for selection of stunning method
1.Class of animal
2.Intended line speed
3.Humane aspects
4.Capital and maintenance cost
5.Efficiency of the equipment
6.Ease of operation
7.Safety of handler or operator
8.Effect on carcass and brain
9.Religious and legal requirements

12. METHODS OF STUNNING
1. Mechanical Methods
2. Chemical / Gaseous method
3. Electrical method
Mechanical methods of stunning:
 Mode of action: Rapid rise and fall in the intra cranial
pressure & destruction of cortex and deeper parts of
brain
a) Percussive stunning
Penetrative
Non penetrative

13. Penetrative percussive stunners
- Captive Bolt Pistol (CBP)
- Pneumatic stunner
-Water Jet Stunning
 Captive Bolt Pistol (CBP)
Generally operated by means of Blank Cartridge
CBP generally employed are:

14. 1. Cash captive bolt
2. The Temple Cox
3. Schermer’s Humane
Principle: A bolt attached to the pistol is propelled forward
and on discharge of the blank cartridge, the bolt
automatically recoils into the barrel.
 The Muzzle or the tip of the pistol should be held firmly
against the animals’ head so that the bolt can gain
velocity before penetration of the skull

15. Mechanism of action:
Penetrative type produces
 Immediate and permanent
insensibility by destruction of cortex
and deeper parts of the brain
 Rapid rise and fall in intra cranial
pressure and sudden jerk due to the
energy of the bolt imparts on the head
( Acceleration concussion).

16.  When using the captive bolt ensure that correct strength of
cartridge is used for different species.
 With the cash instrument the range in strength from 1 grain
in small animals 3-4 grains for large animals(cattle &
mature bulls) (1 grain = 0.065gm)
 In most cases a 0.22 or 0.25 cartridge is used ( in case of
horses 0.64 cartridge )
Types of cartridge used:
• green colour cartridge–larger cattle's,
• Block topped-medium seized animals
• Red topped-small sized animals (sheep)

17. a. Penetrative percussion stunner
b. Contact firing penetrative percussion stunner
c. Air powered penetrative stunner
d. Penetrative percussion stunner- Finger activated trigger
e. Non-penetrative percussive stunner- Deep Stunning box
f. Non-penetrative percussive stunner

19.  In this method the bolt strikes the brain at the velocity of 76-
91m/s.
Advantages
 CBP is effective against Cattle, Sheep and Goat
Disadvantages
 can’t be used for slaughter at rate of over 240-250/hr. due
to reloading difficulty
 Less effective against bulls and pigs (Thick frontal bone
structure)
 Noise produced during the operation
 Recommendation: Clean after every 70 shots ( at the end of
operation dismantle and clean thoroughly)

20. Positioning of the stunner
 Cattle: Middle of fore head, where two lines taken from
medial canthus of each eye to the base of the opposite
horns- Gun placed at Right angle to the head
 Calves: Pistol placed slightly lower on head than adult
cattle
 Bull and old cows: The muzzle is placed 1.5 cm to the
side of the ridge running down the forehead

21.  Calves: Pistol placed slightly lower on head than adult cattle
 Bull and old cows: The muzzle is placed 1.5 cm to the side of
the ridge running down the forehead
 Hornless Sheep and Goat: Gun placed at the top of the head
and aimed towards gullet (Esophagus)
 Horned Sheep and Goat: Muzzle placed behind the ridge
which runs between the horns and the direction is towards
gullet
 Pigs: Pistol placed about 2.5 cm above the level of eye and
fired upwards into the cranial cavity

23. Pneumatic Stunner
 The bolt is activated under pressure of 80-100 psi
(8-10 bars)

25. Non-penetrative Percussion Stunner
 using mushroom head and is used in calves where the
brain is collected for edible purpose
 This method is capable of producing immediate
insensibility, which last for more than 30sec.
• So, the period between stunning
and sticking is not exceed more
than 30sec.
• Successfully applied in sheep
and calves not use full in older
animals.
• In young calves intracranial
hemorrhage may occur

26. Schermer’s humane killer
 Noise less and easy to operate

27. Greener’s humane horse killer
 Easy to handle, clean, extremely quit when fired

28. Typical sign of Effective stun using Percussive MethodTypical sign of Effective stun using Percussive Method
1.Immediate collapse of animal followed by tonic spasm
lasting about 10-15 seconds, followed by slow clonic
movements of the hind legs and eventually violent hind leg
movements
2.Normal rhythmic breathing ceases and eye ball face
outwards with a fixed gaze.
3.The tongue should hang out and be straight and limp. A stiff
curled tongue is a sign of possible return to sensibility. If the
tongue goes in and out, this may be a sign of partial
insensibility
4.For all methods of stunning, when the animal is hung on the
rail, its head should hang straight down and the back must be
straight.

29. Other Mechanical Methods
Shooting instruments with Free Bullet
1. Greener’s Humane cattle killer
2. Swedish Killer
3. RSPCA Humane Killer and slaughtering pistol
4. Sprang pistol
5. The large human killer

30. Water Jet Stunning
 It uses a fine jet of water to penetrate the skull and
mechanically destroy the brain by induction of
laceration, crushing and or shockwaves to the extent that
immediate unconsciousness is induced
- 0.5 mm water jet at pressure of 3500-4000 bars at
similar sites as CBP, drills through the skin and skull in
0.2-0.4 seconds
- Destruction of brain causes severe convulsions in
animals and it can be controlled by immobilizing current
of 400 mA applied using 40 V

31. Stunning by means of gas
Stunning by Carbon-di-oxide gas
Carbon-di-oxide is the only gas that is widely used
stunning the animals commercially
A concentration of 80-85% Carbon-di-oxide more
suitable for pre-slaughter anaesthesia.
Exsanguination is performed 25sec after the
stunning
Strictly maintain the concentration of the gas other
wise improper stunning in case of lower
concentration, if the concentration is too high pig
may become stiff, show reflux muscular activity,
bleed poorly.

32. The type of apparatus employed to administer the
gas
 This is used for killing rates of up to 600 pigs per hour.
• The gas tunnel is in the form of an oval through which a
slot conveyor carries pigs, the actual tunnel sloping
downward at an angle of 30˚ to the anaesthetizing
chamber.
• On exit, the pigs are shackled, hoisted to an overhead rail
and bled.
• The actual conveyor in the tunnel is divided into ten
compartments, one pig being accommodated in each
compartment.
• Pigs up to 113 kg can be handled in this equipment.
Oval tunnel method

33. Dip lift system
This is suitable for any size of pig as well as
calves and sheep.
 The greatest advantage of the system is that it
allows several pigs to be stunned simultaneously,
assisting immediate per-slaughter handling
 It consists of a cage 213 cm long, 68 cm high and
53 cm wide which, when the animal enters it,
descends vertically to the CO2 pit where it remains
for the pre-set time and then automatically returns
to ground level, ejecting the unconscious animal
for shackling and bleeding
 Suitable for small meat plant

35. The compact CO2 immobiliser
 unit usually has a capacity of up to 300 pigs per hour.
• In commonly used design the pigs are exposed to 10%
CO2 at the first position, 30% for 10s at the second, 60%
for 10s at the third and over 90% for 20s at the fourth
and fifth, after which the pigs are discharged from the
unit.
• Pigs go into the machine quietly, become unconscious
and remain as far one to two minutes, allowing plenty of
time for sticking, they bleed out well, heart action is
strong and their is no spasm to delay for continuous flow
of blood, very little distress.

36. Assessment of the unconsciousness in gaseous
method
 A period of increased respiratory rate follows
sloe respiratory movement
 Absence of corneal and palpebral reflex
 Limbs and jaw become relaxed

37.  Advantages
1. Superior than other method
2. Less noise
3. Better bleeding
4. Meat pH is low
5. No hazard to operator
Dis advantages
1. It need more rooms
2. Less rapid than other method
3. Expensive
4. Only pigs are stunned in this method

38. Electrical method of stunning
 A low voltage alternating electric current is
passed through the brain and is applied by
means of two electrodes, which are placed on
either side of the brain using tongs.
 This method of stunning is well suited for pigs,
sheep or goats, poultry and ostriches.
 Mechanism: The current causes massive
depolarization of neurons in the brain resulting in
Epileptic seizures (incoordination of cerebral
nerve cells) producing insensibility

39. Consideration for genuine Electric stun:
1. Strength of electric shock should be sufficient enough
to ensure that animal remains insensible till bleeding
or killed outright by cardiac arrest
2. Sufficient application time to induce genuine
electroplectic shock
Min. application time- 7 sec for low voltage
- 3 sec for high voltage
3. Correct positioning of electrodes so that current can
pass through the thalamus and cortex, the chief
sensory centers of fore brain

40. Positioning of Electrodes
Since the brain of animals is small, the electrodes should be
accurately and firmly placed high up on the sides of the head
Keep the skin of head clean and dry Lowers
Keep the electrodes moist by immersion in brine Electrical
resistance
Types:
1. Head only stunning, which is reversible, and
2. Head-to- back cardiac arrest stunning, which stops the heart.
3. Water bath stunning
Whatever type of Electrical Stunner is used one back up Captive
bolt pistol is a must- to stun improperly stunned animals

42. Based on the strength of Electric current ES is
of 2 types
1. Low Voltage ES
- Uses less than 150 V
- Consists of control panel, meter capable of measuring
current and voltage and a pair of tongs
- Generally used in food animals
2. High Voltage ES
- uses 300 V or above
- Application time 3 seconds

43. Species M/Amps Amp
s
Volts Time
(sec.)
Pig (bacon/porker) min. 125 min.
1.25
max. 125 max. 10
(until
EPS*)
Sheep/goat 100-125 1.0-
1.25
75-125 max. 10
(until
EPS*)
Poultry3
1.5-2 kg
broiler
200 2.0 50-70 5
Turkey 200 2.0 90 10
Ostrich 150-200 1.5-
2.0
90 10-15
EPS – Electoplectic Shock
Recommended current and time characteristics for electrical
stunning

44. HEAD ONLY STUNNING
For Head-only electrical systems, a minimum
electric current of 400 mA for pigs and 250 mA for
sheep and lambs has been recommended to
produce an effective stun when the electrodes are
placed in the ideal position.
Pigs and sheep that are stunned with a head only
Pigs and sheep that are stunned with a head only
stunner must be bled within a maximum interval of
30 seconds to prevent them from regaining
consciousness

45. Head to back or leg stunning
 Current is applied simultaneously to the head
and the back or leg.
 High-voltage electrical stunning in addition to
being used for head-only application, may
incorporate special tongs through which current
is applied simultaneously to the head and
back/leg.
 In this system the brain is anaesthetized and the
heart put into arrest, thus cutting off the blood
supply to the brain, which suffers death before
the anaesthesia ends.

46.  Sticking is to be performed intrathoracically
within 3 minutes for satisfactory bleeding.
 A minimum current recommended for pigs is
1.3A applied with a minimum of 250 V and
for lambs 1.0A at 375 V.
 This is particularly useful if sows and boars,
which are difficult to stun effectively with a
captive bolt, are to be slaughtered.

47. PHASES OF ANIMAL REACTION TO ELECTRICAL
STUNNING
1. Immediate collapse of animal with flexion (act of bending)
followed by rigid extension of limbs
2. Opisthotonus ( Extreme arching of back and neck and spine)
3. Downward rolling of eyeball with tonic (Continuous) muscular
spasm changing to clonic (repeated violent) spasm and eventually
muscle flaccidity
The term Electroplectic fit is used to describe the above said signs
Tonic spasm in Pigs and Sheep: 10-25 seconds
Clonic spasm in Pigs and Sheep : 15-45 seconds

48. RITUAL METHOD
 Ritual method of slaughter as opposed to
humane slaughter is slaughtering of animals
while they are conscious.
 Ritual method of slaughter as the name
suggests is bas on religious tenets of a
particular religion.
1. JATKHA METHOD
2. JEWISH METHOD
3. HALAL OR MUSLIM METHOD OF
SLAUGHTER

49. JATKHA METHOD
• The Jatkha method of
slaughter as per Sikhism
is followed by Sikhs.
• This method is followed
in India in few pockets
only
• Sheep and goats are
decapitated by one
stroke with a sword.
In parts of northern India
skilled operators can
decapitate buffaloes by a
single stroke with a
special sword.

50. JATKHA METHOD

51. JEWISH METHOD
 Controlled in Britain by the Jewish Board of Shechita.
 Prior stunning is forbidden.
 Jewish slaughter man have to undergo several years of
training before being licensed by the Rabbinical
Commission.
 Animals that do not conform to these ideals and any
defects at slaughter in the form of faults in schechita or
disease lesions discovered in the carcass render the
meat terepha, unfit for consumption by Jews.
 Animals that lie quietly and cannot be made to rise must
not be slaughtered according to Jewish ritual.

52. The act of killing is known as Shechita.
The killer - Shochet and the assistant-
Shomer.
Procedure
The Shochet slaughter the fully conscious animal with a
single, deliberate, swift action of a razor sharp knife,
roughly twice the width of the animals neck and which is
devoid of any notch or flaw.
All the soft structures anterior to the cervical spine are
severed, including the carotid arteries and jugular veins.
It is essential that the neck should be fully extended in
order to keep the edges of the wound open and there by
prevent pain.

53. Five rules of the Jewish ritual slaughter are that the neck
incision shall be completed without pause, pressure,
stabbing, slanting and tearing.
The major blood vessels of the carcass fit for
consumption are removed (porged) prior to retail sale
The hindquarters are not eaten by Jews unless they
are porged.
Major objection
coneal reflex does not dis appear 3-5
minutes, butchered animal some raise
themselves walk few steps.

54. Halal method
 Muslim / Mohammedan method of slaughter is
controlled by Local Islamic Authority (Muftis) .
 In this method also Mulla (slaughter man)
offers prayers ('Allah Akbar’)
The head of the animal
should be turned towards
Macca and a transverse throat
incision is made by a sharp
knife cutting all the soft
structures in the neck.
Another incision is made
parallel to the neck to cut
anterior vena cava.

56. Thank
you