Noahide
Humane Slaughter Information
Status of Humane Slaughter Practices and Regulations in the U.S.
Investigations by the Director of Ask Noah: Comparison with requirements in the Noahide Code for treatment of animals during slaughter for food
Humane slaughter and electrical stunning before slaughter: Our chat with Dr. Temple Grandin
Application of the Noahide Code to methods of slaughter in the meat industry: Our discussion with Dr. Joe Regenstein, Cornell University
Expert Articles and Videos
Temple Grandin and Gary C. Smith, Animal Welfare and Humane Slaughter
Temple Grandin, Improving Animal Welfare: A Practical Approach
Stunning to Bleed Interval, Bleed Rail Insensibility, and Determining Insensibility:
Temple Grandin, Good Management Practices for Animal Handling and Stunning (2nd Edition)
Industry Compliance with Animal Welfare
To stay updated about meat suppliers: North American Meat Institute:
Livestock and poultry: Animal Welfare
PDF in English or Spanish: Recommended Animal Handling Guidelines & Audit Guide
U.S. Government Regulations for Humane Slaughter of Livestock
U.S. Code TITLE 7 – AGRICULTURE: Chapter 48 – Humane Methods Of Livestock Slaughter
U.S. Code of Federal Regulations, TITLE 9 — ANIMALS AND ANIMAL PRODUCTS: Part 313 — Humane Slaughter of Livestock
Possibility of Return to Sensibility after Stunning
Temple Grandin, Solving return-to-sensibility problems after electrical stunning in commercial pork slaughter plants
Quote from Temple Grandin: “Checking for signs of return to sensibility after bleeding insures that the animal will not recover.”
Temple Grandin, Cardiac Arrest Stunning of Livestock and Poultry – with updates:
“A stunning method that will reliably render an animal insensible to pain and sensation prior to hoisting and bleeding is essential to prevent suffering. Cardiac arrest stunning is more effective than conventional electric stunning. In cardiac arrest stunning, an electric current is passed through both the brain and the heart to produce permanent insensibility. Since the animal is killed by the electricity it cannot revive during hoisting, bleeding, or slaughtering procedures. In contrast, conventional electrical stunning induces reversible insensibility for a short period of time.“
“The advantages of cardiac arrest stunning are outlined below. If the interval between removal of the electric stunner and bleeding (throat cutting) is too long or if the throat is cut incorrectly, an animal may enter the scalding tank or have a limb or skin removed while still conscious. Cardiac arrest stunning practically eliminates this possibility compared to conventional electric stunning. Another advantage of cardiac arrest stunning is if the animal accidentally misses the bleeding station, stopping the heart will probably induce unconsciousness prior to the animal’s being transported to the scalding tank or the first leg removal or skinning station.”
Temple Grandin, Preventing Return to Sensibility after Captive Bolt, Electrical Stunning in CO2 Stunning of Cattle, Pigs, and Sheep:
Electrical Stunning:
Problem – The initial stun appears to be done correctly but the animal blinks or shows other signs of return to sensibility 30 to 90 seconds after stunning.
Causes [partial list]:
– The stunning to bleed interval is too long. This is especially a problem with head only reversible stunning. The solution is to shorten the interval between stunning and bleeding.
– Poor bleeding if an animal shows signs of return to sensibility after it has been bled. This can occur in cardiac arrested animals because there are always a few animals where the heart is not stopped. Training of the person doing the bleeding will usually solve this problem.
CO2 Stunning:
[Partial list of reasons for return to sensibility]
– The time between exit from the CO2 chamber and bleeding is too long. To prevent recovery from the anesthesia, bleed the animals more quickly.
– Poor bleeding technique. If animals show signs of return to sensibility after bleeding the person doing the bleeding may need more training.
