1
HUMANE SLAUGHTER
„There are two main opposite disbelieves upon the limits of physical injuries and restraint that is not permissible for civilised people to exceed in their treatment of domestic animals.
1) The first error is supposing that domestic animals in their feelings anxieties are essentially like human beings.
2) The second is the equally serious error of assuming that animals are insentient automates.
”
To avoid these pitfalls is relatively easy in practice. However, to know what path to choose between them is extremely difficult.
The most important in the slaughter of food animals are that they shall be dispatched without unnecessary suffering and the bleeding shall be as complete as possible.
Not only must human conditions prevail during dispatch but they must also attend the period of leading up to slaughter and during restraint.
It is also important to minimize danger to the operator.
Good bleeding is only ensured if it is carried out immediately after stunning or killing and if the animal is healthy (but is retarded in all affections that adversely affect the action of heart, lungs and muscles).
In conventional slaughtering methods in most developed countries, it is normal practice to render the animal insensible by stunning, except in the Jewish and Muslim methods, and then to kill it by bleeding.
In this two-stage system of slaughter it is essential that insensibility lasts until brain death supervenes.
This depends on
 the length of interval between stunning and sticking that must be as short as possible
 and the efficiency of the sticking itself (malpractice of group killing).

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Faults are due mainly to lack of training and/or care, and responsibility, and to the usual high speed of operations in the modern meat plant.
The discovery that satisfactory bleeding can occur where cardiac arrest has been induced obviates (prevents) all risk of cruelty and
should be the ideal for the future for all the food animals.
No legislation is of may value unless it clearly declares the priority of hygiene, meat inspection and the welfare of animals versus the pursue of productivity.
It is generally regarded as undesirable that animal awaiting for slaughter should view the slaughtering process.
It is questionable if stress is felt by animals at the sight of and smell of blood. Nevertheless, fear is undoubtedly is felt by strange noises, movements, surroundings, and smells. This fear is accentuated by the separation of the animal from its fellows and/but the consequent disappearance of the feeling of protection that a gregarious animal enjoys in the presence of its comrades.
Every effort must be made to reduce the amount of
on the animal prior to slaughter also by using instruments in good mechanical order. Unstressed animals make for easier and safer stunning operations by well-trained individuals.
Proper stunning and killing help to prevent injuries to stuff at subsequent shackling and bleeding process. Satisfactory stunning allows for efficient bleeding and consequently good meat-quality.
Slaughter of the farm animals is normally a 2-stage process of stunning and bleeding but direct killing by putting the heart into arrest (usually by electrically) can be followed by satisfactory bleeding if it is effected immediately afterwards.
There are certain differences in European regulations. For example, deer if farm or wild presents difficulties in the areas of slaughter and meat inspection.
Animals taken from the wild and panned under varying conditions overnight before slaughter next morning produced carcasses of dark cutting meat in 22% of the overall total.
In the severe stress situations 30% of stag and castrate carcasses were dark cutting, but non of the hinds produced such meat.

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The solution of this problem may, therefore, lie with immediate slaughter on reception at the abbatoir, as is the case with young bulls.
The permitted methods for
at present are the free bullet, captive bolt pistol, concussion stunner, electrical stunning and carbon dioxide anaesthesia.
Under this legislation all animals must either be:
1) Instaneously slaughtered by means of a mechanically operated instrument or
2) Stunned by means of a mechanically operated instrument or an instrument for stunning by electricity or other approved means provided that they are instantly rendered insensible to pain until death supervenes.
In all cases the instruments used must be in a proper state of repair.
There is an exemption from the need for prior stunning in the case of the Jewish slaughter for the food of Jews by a Jew duly licensed for that purpose by the Rabbinical Commission or by Muslim method for the food of Muslims and by a Muslim.
Slaughter by either Jewish or Mohammedan method must not inflict unnecessary suffering.
All persons engaged in the slaughtering of animals in a slaughterhouse or knacker’s yard must hold a licence granted by the local authority specifying the classes of animals that may be slaughtered or stunned and the types of instruments that may be used.
Licences are renewable annually and are granted only to persons over 18 years of age who are fit to do the job. A slaughterman should have qualifications to be attained through training.
We have already discussed regulations dealing with construction, layout and equipment of slaughterhouses and lairages and holding pens as well as farm and transport conditions, conditions that have to be observed in lairages (water, food, bedding for animals held

4 overnight), cleanliness, separation of species of horned and fractious animals.
From July 1992, all cattle slaughtered by a religious method must be in an upright position in an approved restraining pen.
Animals in pain must be slaughtered without delay.
Regulations permit the use of anaesthesia by carbon dioxide gas for the slaughter of pigs with safeguards to prevent the infliction of unnecessary suffering. These include warning device indicating excess of or a fall below the required concentration of gas, separate pans for individual pigs within the apparatus, stunning by captive bolt pistol or electricity should the pig not be rendered insensible, and a means of rapid extraction of carbon dioxide from pens in the installation if necessary.
The slaughter of domestic fowls (ducks and geese) and turkeys are also defined: done instaneously by means of decapitation or dislocation of the neck, or by stunning with an approved instrument in proper repair and instaneously rendered insensible to pain until death supervenes.
Jewish and Muslim methods of slaughter are also exempt.
The period when birds are awaiting slaughter must be as short as possible. Birds must be protected from direct sunlight and adverse weather and have sufficient ventilation. A bird in pain must be slaughtered immediately. Turkeys must not be suspended head downwards for more than 6 minutes before slaughter or stunning.
They should, however, be allowed a little time to settle. After bleeding, they must not be immersed in a scalding tank or plucked before 2 minutes (turkey) or 90 sec (domestic fowls) have elapsed.
ASSESSMENT OF UNCONSCIOUSNESS AT SLAUGHTER
Consciousness involves an awareness of the environment and the ability to appreciate pain. Consciousness may disappear as a consequence of sleep, concussion, the administration of an anaesthetic, lack of blood supply to the brain and thereby anoxia, an electro convulsive shock or death.

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It is essential that the state of unconsciousness or insensibility be instantaneously produced to ensure total freedom from suffering and this is further ensured by immediate exsanguination.
Where cardiac arrest is created there is immediate insensibility which is permanent. In spite of cardiac dysfunction, adequate bleeding also takes place and this recognition is an outstandingly important development in the slaughter of animals.
It has always been thought that a beating heart was necessary for proper bleeding. Not this is the case, the only criterion is that sticking should perform immediately after cardiac arrest (stunning).
The typical signs of effective stunning by electricity are:
Immediate collapse with flexion of the limb followed by rigid extension of the legs, episthotonus (extreme arching back of the neck and spine), downward rolling of the eyeballs with tonic continuous muscular spasm (25 sec) changing into clonic
(repeated, violent) spasms and eventual muscle flaccidity. Effective stun’s signs is termed: electroleptic fit).
The typical signs of an effective stun using percussive methods are immediate collapse followed by tonic spasm (16 sec), then slow clonic movements of the hindlegs and eventual vigorous hindleg movements.
In carbon dioxide anaesthesia in pigs the effects are those to chemical anaesthesia with onset of insensibility after a period of increased respiratory rate followed by slow respiratory movements and final dyspnoe. Corneal and palpebral reflexes are absent and extreme flaccidity of muscles supervenes.

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The choice of a particular method of stunning depends on many different factors- classes of animal, human aspects, capital and maintenance costs, efficiency of equipment, ease of operation, safety of personal, effects on carcass and brain along with religious and legal requirements.

Captive bolt penetrative stunning precludes the use of brains for human consumption and also for Jewish and possibly Muslim ritual slaughter.

The use of percussive non-penetrative stunning does not produce an adequate length of insensibility and can cause brain haemorrhages.
Muscle haemorrhages (blood splashing) can occur with both captive bolt penetrative and electrical head-only stunning.
Especially if the time between stunning and sticking is prolonged.
With head-to-back-electrical stunning, while there may be an absence of muscle splashing, haemorrhages may occur in fat and connective tissue.
The use of the
to severe the spinal cord at the atlantooccipital junction from the dorsal aspect of the neck is sanctioned in EU, since animals still show photomotor reflex indicating a state of sensibility.
They are generally operated by means of explosive cartridge, although some are pneumatic (compressed air) and spring under tension. A bolt attached to the pistol is propelled forward on discharge of the blank cartridge and automatically recoils into the barrel. Bolts with sharp ends may
the frontal bone of the animal
cause concussion
.
It is important to ensure that the correct strength of cartridge is used for the different species.

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Captive bolt pistol is very effective in
but less so in bulls and pigs, especially sows and boars in which the frontal bone structure is very thick.
The penetrating type of captive bolt pistol (CBP) produces immediate insensibility by destruction of the cortex and deeper parts of the brain, change in intracranial pressure and the sudden jerk is termed: acceleration concussion.
The important factor in producing unconsciousness is the actual velocity of the bolt and the speed at which it strikes the brain rather than the penetration of the brain per se (76-91 m/sec).
The CBP cannot be used for slaughter at rates over 240-250/h owing to difficulties in reloading and cartrige driven type becomes hot and needs time to cool down and recharging with new cartriges causes long delay. Type A pneumatic stunner is used to overcome this difficulty, it is re-cocked automatically by air pressure.
Others like Hantover Type B pneumatic stunner not only used air pressure to re-cock the pistol but also inject air under pressure into he cranial cavity and scramble the brain and sometimes the spinal cord. Scrambling the brain in this way increases the safety of the slaughterman as he shackles the hinf limbs for hoisting. The same can be achieved following conventional captive bolt stunning and by using a pithing rod that is thrust up and down into the stun hole to causes sever damage to the brain structure. This process is called pithing. Both pneumatic stunner and pithing are prohibited to use in EU (cerebral tissue emboli were found in vessels (jugular vein, pulmonary artery, heart and lungs).
The stunning box design should be fitted to the operation of stunning (not to bend very low to reach the animal’s head).
Pneumatic stunners sometimes have inadequate air pressure.
Using a mushroom head sometimes applied in
where brains are collected for edible use and are regular use in USA.
Immediate insensibility is caused lasting for more than 30 sec in calves or sheep (
). Care must be taken to hold the instrument reaso nably firmly against the animals’ head at a proper point and direction.

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In
a special type of CBP with longer and heavier bolt is employed.
The newer contact-firing types of captive bolt pistol are much more satisfactory than the older trigger-operated ones.
To stun a group of animals, especially sheep, leads on occasions to recover of consciousness and high incidence of blood splashing.
This is against the law (cruelty) and leads to poor meat quality.
(Clean, maintenance, safety levers-accident)
First use was in 1904 but not successfully until 1950. Since then, the method is widely used all over the world although not as extensively as it could be, probably because of the high cost of installation and operation.
This method was banned in the Netherlands (since 1980) because it is thought to lead to unconsciousness under very stressful conditions for the animal. The period of excitement lasting on an average 26 sec and believed to be due to the CO
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gas and lack of oxygen.
It is used in Denmark extensively.
Carbon dioxide is stored in cylinders or bulk in tanks as a liquid under pressure and also available in solid form for which a converter is necessary (solid carbon dioxide is also used for refrigeration purposes). It is non-inflammable (CCP: pungent smell).
The narcotic effect of the gas is due to blocking of nerve impulses
(pH is reduced in CSF to 6.8). At least
concentration of carbon dioxide in air the most suitable for pre-slaughter anaesthesia.
the concentration is too low, the pigs will not be properly stunned and
too high, pigs become stiff, show reflex muscular activity and bleed poorly.
At
exposure time superficial congestion of the skin occurs and scalded pigs are bluish in colour.
It is important, therefore, the correct concentration of gas, exposure time of
and bleeding should take place within 30 sec of the pigs leaving the gas chamber.
Due to incorrect parameters applied, adverse effects are convulsive struggling, excitement, and even cardiac arrest (exposure time above 45 sec).

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Pig under carbon dioxide anaesthesia will regain consciousness if they are not subsequently bled within 1.5 minute (depends on gas cc). Pigs become unconscious in about 20-25 sec.
The type of apparatus employed depends on the rate of slaughter.
Three main types are available:
1) OVAL TUNNEL is used for higher killing rates (120-140 pigs per hour) In an oval tunnel a slot conveyor carries the pig along a downward slope of 30

to the anaesthetising chamber. On exit the pigs are shackled, hoisted to an overhead rail and bled. The conveyor is divided into
. One pig up to 113 kg b.w. per each compartment. The equipment is not suitable for other species.
2)
for smaller throughputs and any size of pigs as well as calves and sheep. It consists of a cage (Long:213, High:68, Wide:53 cm). Entering, the animal descends
to the carbon dioxide pit where it remains for the pre-set time and then, automatically returns to ground level, ejecting the unconscious animal for shackling and bleeding.
3)
is a horizontally-revolving apparatus divided into 3 compartments. When one section is uppermost the other the other two are submerged in the gas chamber.
Because of the heavy fleece,
need more gas. Carbon dioxide gas has been utilized experimentally for
and
(73-77%)

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The advantages of carbon dioxide anaesthesia:

Relaxed carcasses allowing easier dehairing and dressing

Less noise

Reduced labour requirements

Better yield of blood (Carbon dioxide stimulates respiration and thus favours blood circulation and consequent bleeding).

Muscular haemorrhages are avoided
 pH of meat is lower
But it needs more room, not more rapid than other methods, but expensive.
An alternating current is passed through the brain and heart of the animal. The method is widely used for stunning of
and
(
).
It is said that the method is inhumane because it causes a condition known as “missed shock” in which the animal is paralysed and is fully conscious.
Provided certain conditions are observed, the method, however can be regarded as efficacious and humane as it causes incoordination of the cerebral nerve cells and consequently, a confusional state of the brain.
The conditions to be provided are as follows:
1) Voltage and current should not be less than
and
, respectively.
2) Electroleptic shock will be induced if the current is applied for a sufficient time:
is recommended. Main voltage may fluctuate, therefore every stunning electrical apparatus should be supplied with
howing current strength value.
3) The electrode should be correctly positioned allowing current to pass through the thalamus and cortex, the main sensory centres in the forebrain. The electrical resistance of the hair and skin may be

11 lowered by keeping the
by immersion in braine and the
of the head is cleaned but
.
Passage of electrical current is facilitated if the caloric intake of the animal is reduced (
) and its state of
is increased.
4) The animal should be bled immediately after unconsciousness has been produced, otherwise it may regain consciousness though still remain paralysed: stress.
5) Muscle and lung haemorrhages can be reduced considerably by prior resting, correct stunning and immediate bleeding.
Electrical stunning has not proved entirely satisfactory for the anaesthetisation of
(possibly because of the insulating effect of fine hairs on the head of the animals). Certain Continental
Authorities found it to be satisfactory.
A high voltage head-to-brisket system operates in New Zealand for religious slaughter.
The efficacy of electrical anaesthesia is not dependent on the individual factors of voltage, current (amperage) or time, but on the total quantity of electrical energy supplied, expressed in wattseconds (voltage x amperage x time).
It is necessary that an adequate amount of electricity pass through the brain in sufficiently short period of time. This depends on the voltage applied and the resistance present.
If too high current is applied, the animal may be killed by heart failure (ventricular fibrillation) or suffocation.
If too low voltage is used, the animal may be paralysed but is still
conscious of pain.
Operator’s safety is also important but voltage levels under 70 V are not generally effective (especially regarding the fluctuations in mains voltage).
Since the brains of animals are relatively small, it is important that electrodes are accurately and firmly placed high up on the sides of the head. The irregular anatomy of the head makes this difficult, especially if the animal is moving.
(Electrodes must be in good repair and not corroded. Water brine is used to ensure good passage of current).

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The passage of electrical current through the brain results in a rapid rise in blood pressure (BP) due to vasoconstriction and increased heart rate, hence the need for immediate bleeding in order to avoid muscle splashing.
It is essential that the equipment be earthen properly for operator safety. The amperage regulated to prevent broken bones and haemorrhages in the animals.
Operation is made manually or automatically.
LOW VOLTAGE ELECTRICAL STUNNING
The most common type is with electrodes immersed into saline and placed to the sides of animals’ head (or possess in-built water-jets)
(75V, 50 Hz for 7 sec). Some doubts exist about the effectiveness of low voltage stunning, high voltage systems are preferred recently.
HIGH VOLTAGE ELECTRICAL STUNNING
Voltage of 300 V for 2-3 sec used with automatic restrainers
(operator safety).
Fractures in vertebrae and scapula may occur in pigs stunned on the floor.
Head to back to leg stunning
In this system the brain is anaesthetised and the heart put into arrest, thus cutting off the blood supply to the brain that suffers brain death before the anaesthesia of the brain ends.
Experiments proved that brain function ceased 23 sec after this system of stunning whereas this time was extended to some 50 sec with head-only stunning.
Automatic conveyor restrained systems present the head of the animal (pigs, sheep) to electrodes suspended on hinged metal plates. They prevent adverse reflex muscular movements and the possibility of fractures and shackling+sticking are easier for operators. Pelt burn occasionally occurs on the back with this method.

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EFFECTS OF STUNNING ON MEAT QUALITY
Penetrative percussive stunning (captive bolt)
There is a long interval between stunning and sticking and/or inadequate penetration of the bolt, resulting in blood
in muscles (group stunning).
The lesion occurs when a marked rise in BP takes place.
Non-penetrative percussive stunning
It induces intracranial haemorrhages in connective tissues and fat.
The most preferable method is the high voltage (300V) stunning but higher voltages (600-1000V) are not beneficial.
The use of tongs with 300V in a restrainer conveyor resulted in superior meat quality (compared to 600V automatic stunning).
The incidence of PSE is lower, as well as pH, temperature, rigor, bacteriological status problems.
The use of
compact equipment reduces the incidence of blood splashing and PSE meat and meat quality is better in general than with electrical stunning. There are no convulsions and safer to handle for operators even when blood is being collected for human use.
POULTRY
The requirement of speed is a major factor in reducing the standard of all operations in modern slaughter and processing plants for all
species of animals.
The rate of operations, especially high in poultry plant that may be up to 6000 birds per hour and this demand complicates the stunning procedure, as it does all other procedures.
Hand stunning devices (50-70-90V) (100-200-250 mA) for 1-3 sec of
2 kg b.w. domestic fowls. For turkeys of 6.8-9 kg b.w., 90V are applied for 10 sec. Manually operated stunning devices are only suitable for low rates of kill up to 1000 birds per hour.
Automatic stunning devices of high or low voltage type are used on high speed poultry lines. There are two types concerning voltage applied:

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1) In the
types, 400-1000 V are carried in a
over which stretched birds are conveyed.
Usually only the comb touches the grid. Disadvantages are the high percentage of cardiac arrests (400 V killed 58-75% of broilers), severe muscle contractions, fractures, imperfect bleeding, risk for employees.
2)
electric stunners (50-60V of 50-60 Hz) markedly reduce the above disadvantages. There is a satisfactory narcosis with no pain or stress. Missed shock or electrical paralysis may occur. One form of low-voltage stunning apparatus utilizes a cabinet on the conveyor line that the birds pass while suspended on shackles and exposed to electrical contact for 5 sec. Birds removed from the line and not bled recover in 2-3 min.
In another version of stunner the birds’ heads are being drawn through an electrified
.
The symptoms of
in poultry are usually: head with raired hackles ashed towards back, eyes wide open, legs rigidly extended, body showing constant, repeated muscle tremors, wings with flight feathers slightly spread, applied close to the body and displaying rapid, short bursts of flapping, tail feathers turned up.
Little significance has the absent of corneal reflex. It is recommended that birds be immersed the water-bath up to the bare of their wings and apply 200V and 350-400 mA.
EFFECTS OF STUNNING ON POULTRY’S MEAT QUALITY
A broiler is said to be properly bled if it does not show redness on the surface of the skin or engorgement of the visceral bloodvessels. In contrast, redness of the wing tips and tail are believed to be evidence of poor bleeding, or is hyperaemia of the carcass. The highest blood loss occurs in broilers stunned at voltages between
50-80V. Higher voltages result in lower blood loss but where cardiac arrest takes place the total loss of blood is the same compared with non-cardiac arrest although a longer time is required for bleeding.
Many birds are improperly stunned during normal plant operations and because of satisfactory bleeding can be achieved in the killed bird. The creation of cardiac arrest would appear to be the method of choice for all purposes and for all animals.
The exact nature and origin of fractures and haemorrhages have not yet been determined.

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OTHER METHODS OF SLAUGHTER
Legislation in the major developed countries requires that all animals slaughtered in an abbatoir shall first be rendered unconscious (except those slaughtered by the Jewish and
Mohammedan ritual).
In Spain, parts of Italy, Mexico and some South American countries cattle are slaughtered by a short double edged knife (
) that is plunged into the occipital-atlantal space of the neck, severing the medulla oblongata. Enervation by puntilla is the
effective stunning method.
In the Arctic, reindeer are killed by a curved, single-edged knife introduced into the occipito-atlantal space and directed to destroy the brain.
In India and Far East practically all animals salughtered while conscious. In India the majority of sheep and goats are killed by the
Halal or Mohammedan method in which the throat is cut transversely as in the Jewish method of slaughter.
The Sikh or Jakta method the sheep or goat is decapitated by one stroke of a sword (In parts of Northern India skilled operators can decapitate buffaloes by a single stroke of a special sword).
The Mohammedan ritual does not forbid stunning of the animal prior to bleeding provided the stunning instruments have never been used on pigs.
PITHING
After cattle are stunned, they are sometimes pithed before bleeding by inserting a long, thin rod or wire into the whole made by the penetrating bolt, thereby destroying the motor centres of the brain and excluding the possibility of reflex muscular action, thus avoiding injury to the operators, and speeding carcass dressing.
If the tool is too long it might injure spinal cord roots of the grater splanchic nerve that is the main vasoconstrictor of the abdominal cavity. The resultant dilatation of the splanchic blood vessels causes congestion of the liver, kidneys and intestines and, in

16 addition congestion and enlargement of the spleen, producing the
“slaughter spleen”.
Under modern conditions, it is completely unnecessary provided efficient stunning is carried out, very unhygienic and timeconsuming.
Pithing is also contraindicated in those countries where BSE occurs because of the risk of contamination of meat and the infection of operators.
The shackling of the hind-leg of cattle and their hoisting to an overhead bleeding rail nullifies reflex muscular movement, allowing sticking to be performed safely, always presuming there has been satisfactory bleeding.
The stunning box ejects cattle with leg to be shackled uppermost.
BLEEDING
There are two main methods of bleeding:
1) Bilateral severance of carotid arteries and jugular veins by an incision across the throat region caudal to the larynx as in ritual
slaughter.
2) Incision in the jugular furrow at the base of neck, the knife directed towards the entrance of chest to severe the brachiocephalic trunk and anterior vena cava (pleura should not be injured by oversticking resulting in back-bleeding).
In factory abbatoir cattle is stunned and hoisted by shackling of the hind leg over the bleeding gully (centralized collection of blood). for sterile collection of blood serve the stainless-steel hollow knives, vacuum pump, sterilization facilities, anticoagulant injection, containers, etc.).
The vertical head-down position of the suspended carcass causes blood to be retained in the head. Further small bilateral incisions at the angle of jaw, unilateral sticking at the base of neck sever jugulars at their division into internal and external maxillary veins and then also permits easier skinning of heads and reduces quantity of blood in lingual artery.

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SHEEP
Incision in the jugular furrows close to the head severs both carotids and jugulars.
PIGS
In general, two knives method sould be applied. One is for open skin, the other cut vessels. Both knives are cleaned by cold water and sterilised by hot water of 82 °C)
In pigs the knife is inserted in the midline of the neck at the depression in front of the sternum. Then, it pushed forward to sever the anterior vena cava at the entrance of the chest (sometimes the carotid artery is also pierced). Not insert knife too far as it may penetrate into the shoulder allowing blood and water from the scalding tank to run back into the shoulder “packet”. Suspended pigs while bleeding also urinate contaminating blood (tubed hollow knife under vacuum collected into tank should be used). in certain abbatoirs in USA prone-sticking of pigs has been adopted. After stunning, the animals put on a conveyor belt and are stuck while lying prone, the blood draining into trough running parallel to the conveyor.
Immediately after sticking, animals come under a holding-down belt that restrains movements.
AMOUNT OF BLOOD REMAINING IN CARCASS
Stunning and delayed bleeding:
Stunning and immediate bleeding:
100 parts
86 parts
Direct bleeding without stunning: 70 parts
Electrical stunning and immediate bleeding: 60 parts
Usually 40% of blood is removed by bleeding (cattle: 13.5 l; sheep:
2 l; pig:2-4 l during 5-6 min).
The stunning of an animal by any means produces a rise in blood pressure (arterial, capillary and venous systems).
In sheep the normal blood pressure of 120-145 mmHg may rise to
260 mmHg or over when the animal is stunned prior to bleeding.
This is accompanied by an increase of heart rate. Both of these factors will facilitate immediate bleeding. Rate of flow from cut vessels is 5-10 times higher than from intact vessel and not until
20% of the blood has been lost does the pressure begin to fall. If an

18 undue interval is allowed to elapse between stunning and bleeding, the carcass may be imperfectly bled and may occur blood splashes.
JEWISH SLAUGHTER
At slaughter the animals must be alive and healthy and have suffered no injury. Prior stunning of the animal, therefore is forbidden. (Shechita=Act of killing for food, terefa=unfit).
Animals that lie quietly and cannot be made to rise must not be slaughtered. All the soft structures anterior to the cervical spine are severed with a single action of a razor-sharp knife (including carotid arteries and jugular veins).
The neck is fully extended keeping edges of wound open, thereby prevent any pain.
“Post mortem examination”:by making an incision posterior to the xiphoid process and inserting arm to detect any adhesions in the thoracic cavity (washed to remove blood, curing, chilling room).
Carcass is porged by removing large blood vessels in the forequarters prior to retail sale. Only the forequarters are normally used, since hindquarters containing over 50 blood vessels, can only be porged by highly skilled kosher butchers and therefore, are rarely eaten (“Only be sure that not to eat blood, for blood is the life”)
KOSHER SLAUGHTER RESTRAINING SYSTEMS
PREPARING FOR CUT:
The shackling and hoisting (also, clamp applied to the nostrils to stretch the neck) of conscious live animals have been forbidden in
USA since 1958., but kosher slaughter is exempt from this requirement. In USA some 120 million food animals are slaughtered annually of which 8-10 million are kosher-killed. They try develop a special pen-restrain.
CUTTING:
Anatomical differences in blood supply to brain occur in the various species of animals. In sheep and goats the complete brain is supplied from the common carotid arteries. The vertebral arteries supply only the anterior spinal cord and the posterior medulla oblongata.

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However, in cattle vertebral arteries carry enough blood to maintain consciousness when both common arteries are occluded, cut. Very little blood is required to maintain consciousness especially in the head-down position and in young animals that have a greater resistance to anoxia.
After the carotid arteries of cattle are severed transversely they tend, by their elasticity, to retract rapidly within their own external connective tissue coat, thus sealing off the cut ends. By blood supply from vertebral artery, consciousness is maintained, unconsciousness is delayed.
Such sealing mechanism might explain that some cattle with
Jewish style cut-throat regain their feet and walk a considerable distance before they succumb some minutes later. It is impossible to ensure that self-sealing of cut ends of carotids will not occur although proper neck extension may reduce this possibility.
The actual act of slaughter in Jewish and Halal slaughter can be regarded as painless and humane if performed efficiently with wound kept open.
Jewish method of slaughter is controlled by Jewish Board of
Shechita and Jewish Slaughterman have to undergo several years of training before being licensed by the Rabbinical Commission.
They are also subject to annual examination of skills by the
Commission and must also be licensed by local Authorities.
MUSLIM METHOD OF SLAUGHTER
Eating of dead animals, consumption of blood and of swine is also forbidden.
The Quran describes the procedure of carotid jugular section as cutting and draining of blood.
Animals must not be slaughtered in the sight of other beasts and those to be killed are to fed and watered beforehand.
Method of slaughter is overseen by local Islamic authority who decide if a particular method is confort to Islamic Law.
In some instances prior stunning with electricity or captive bolt pistol is allowed (provided that the heart is still beating after stunning).