Effect of neck cut position on time to collapse in halal slaughtered cattle without stunning

Abstract

This study examined the effect of neck cut position on the time to physical collapse in upright restrained halal slaughtered cattle (n = 644). Time to collapse was used as an indirect indicator of the early stages of onset of unconsciousness. Cattle were slaughtered with either a conventional low (LNC) (n=561) or a high neck cut (HNC) (n = 83). Mean time to final collapse was higher in the LNC compared to HNC group (18.9 ± 1.1s and 13.5 ± 1.3s respectively (P < 0.01)). The mean false aneurysm scores were higher in the LNC cattle (0.8 ± 0.0) compared to the HNC (0.6 ± 0.1) (P < 0.01). Animals that took > 20s to final collapse had larger false aneurysms. In summary, the HNC reduced the mean time to final collapse and the frequency of animals that took longer than 20s to collapse.

The compatibility of modern slaughter techniques with halal slaughter: a review of the aspects of ‘modern’ slaughter methods that divide scholarly opinion within the Muslim community

“…penetrative captive bolt stunning, gas stunning and electric head-to-body stunning where the voltage spans the heart). The use of reversible stunning for Halal production is widely accepted by the Muslim community in New Zealand (Gilbert et al 1986), within the European Union (Dialrel 2010;Food Standard Agency 2012, 2015 and in some Muslim majority countries (MS1500 2009MUI HAS 23103, 2012). The main reason for the approval of reversible stunning is that it ensures that a live and unconscious but otherwise essentially undamaged animal is presented at the final slaughter operation where it is exsanguinated.…”

“…In some cases, after the Shechita cut, some cattle have attempted to escape after initially collapsing (Levinger, 1976). It has been suggested that a higher neck cut position (above the conventional neck cut position) can reduce the incidence of false aneurysms (Gregory et al, 2012, Gibson et al, 2015 particularly during Halal slaughter without the use of thoracic sticking. In fact Gibson et al (2015) showed that performing a high neck cut during Halal slaughter without stunning significantly reduced the time to final collapse of cattle.…”

Comprendre la manière dont l’animal perçoit et évalue son environnement pour réduire son stress en abattoir : exemple chez les bovins

“…Ainsi, la durée de ces procédures, la densité dans le camion, le type de conduite et de routes empruntées, les températures et les courants d'air sont autant de paramètres connus pour influencer l'état de stress des bovins. L'efficacité des techniques d'étourdissement et de saignée, notamment en termes de rapidité d'induction de l'inconscience, ont également fait et font encore l'objet de nombreuses études (European Food Safety Authority [EFSA], 2004;Gregory et al 2007;Gibson et al 2015;Terlouw et al 2015 a et b). Ces travaux concernent essentiellement l'évaluation de l'inconscience et l'efficacité du geste lors de la saignée afin de réduire au maximum le stress et les douleurs.…”

Assessing unconsciousness in livestock at slaughter

“…Sheep that are slaughtered without stunning lose consciousness 2-24 seconds after the neck cut (Gregory and Wotton, 1984;Devine et al, 1986;. Consciousness in cattle is generally lost later than in sheep and ranges from 2 s up to over 5 minutes after the neck cut (Nangeroni and Kennett, 1963;Newhook and Blackmore, 1982;Daly et al, 1988;Gibson et al, 2015;Verhoeven et al, 2016a). There is debate about the extent to which slaughter of conscious, i.e.…”

“…In total 15 of 82 (18%) calves in that study were cut a second time and one of those 15 calves was cut a third time. Recent studies in cattle suggest that bleed out is improved when the carotid arteries in the neck are severed at the position of the first cervical vertebrae (C1) instead of C2 to C4 (Gregory et al, 2012a, Gibson et al, 2015. Multiple reasons have been proposed to why bleeding out may be improved when the neck is cut at the C1 position.…”