Effects of different slaughter methods on bleeding sheep
Blackmore, D.K.; Newhook, J.C.
Veterinary Record 99(16): 312-316
1976
ISSN/ISBN: 0042-4900 PMID: 982775 Document Number: 102311
This paper compares bleeding rates and total blood lost in five different slaughter methods used on 116 sheep. The traditional New Zealand method is by rapid severance of major blood vessels, trachea, oesophagus and spinal cord at the accipito-altantal junction. It leads to contamination of the head and neck with ruminal contents and is of questionable humaneness. The methods compared were: 1) traditional without stunning; 2) traditional after stunning; 3) unilateral severance of major blood vessels; 4) severance at thoracic inlet; 5) bilateral severance of vessels dorsal to trachea and oesophagus. Stunning, where applied, was electrical or by captive bolt. Method 5) was found to be the most satisfactory because it was technically easier to learn and involved less risk of carcass and wool contamination, injury to the slaughterman and regaining of consciousness by the sheep. The initial bleeding times, weights of initial and residual blood recovered, overall rate of initial bleeding, percentage of residual blood, and weight of initial blood per kg carcass weight are tabulated.