Humane-Slaughter-Guidelines

Operators of the manual percussive stunning method
should be trained in the proper location of the blow
to the head and should be given frequent breaks and
rotated often to avoid operator fatigue Automated systems
require training for operators on a regular basis
and a preventative maintenance program to ensure the
proper functioning of the equipment.
Decapitation followed by secondary kill step
Rapid severance of the head and brain from the spinal
cord, followed by pithing of the brain, will cause
rapid death and unconsciousness. Decapitation alone is
not considered a humane approach, especially for species
that may be particularly tolerant of low O 2
concentrations.
Pithing helps ensure rapid loss of brain function
and death for those species. 89
Cervical transection using a knife or other sharp
instrument inserted caudal to the skull to sever
the spinal cord and cervical vertebrae, followed
by secondary kill step
The rationale for this approach is similar to that for
decapitation (destruction of connections between brain
and spinal cord) and pithing (destruction of brain tissue),
except that the head is still physically attached by
musculature to the body.
Electrocution
An electric current is passed through the water containing
the fish for slaughter. The voltage and amperage
conditions of the electric current should be sufficient
not only to stun the fish, creating immediate unconsciousness,
but also to kill the fish (electrocution). Operators
using this method should be sufficiently trained
in the level of electric current appropriate to be used
for the species of fish in question as well as in safety
measures for themselves (Table 3).
Exsanguination as a secondary kill step
Gill arches are cut to cause bleeding of the fish and
ultimately death. Exanguination without prior stunning
should be avoided, as fish may struggle intensely 99
with vigorous head shakes and tail flaps. 100
Table 3—Electrical parameters recommended for different species of fish.
Rapid chilling (hypothermic shock;
one step or two step)
This method of killing is not appropriate for temperate-,
cool-, or cold-water tolerant finfish or other
species that can survive at 4°C (39°F) and below, nor
is it currently acceptable for medium- to large-bodied
finfish because of surface-to-volume considerations.
Fish display vigorous movement upon chilling; livechilling
decreases plasma glucose when compared with
no chilling before slaughter. This decreased plasma glucose
was once thought to be due to decreased stress 101 ;
however, more recent literature shows that this is likely
due to rapid depletion of energy stores as a result of
struggling during capture.
U4.4 Conclusions
Food fish slaughter techniques are very diverse,
and fish species vary in their response to different
methods 102 such as sensitivity to oxygen deprivation 103
or tolerance for low temperatures. Therefore, slaughter
techniques should be continually researched and determined
specifically for the food fish species in question.
U5 Handling and Slaughter of Ratites
Ratites are flightless birds that include the ostrich,
emu, and rhea. Currently, ostriches and emus are raised
in several countries for slaughter purposes. Slaughter
facilities for ratites include commercial plants specifically
designed for these birds, custom slaughter plants
that process a broad range of species, and plants previously
utilized for a different species that have been
adapted for ratites (eg, a beef slaughter plant adapted
for ostrich).
Regardless of the slaughter facility used, care
should be taken to avoid standing in front ratites during
handling or catching. They can kick forward, and
a kick from a slaughter-weight bird can cause severe
injury from the last phalanx of the third toe, which is
pointed and carries a claw. It is advised to stay at the
side or toward the rear of the bird for handling purposes.
Toe trimming of the birds is a husbandry option, but
the third toe plays a primary role as a lever for balance,
exertion of traction forces, and directional impetus during
locomotion, 104 and trimming can negatively affect
their balance making the birds prone to slipping in wet
conditions. 105
When slaughter-stage ratites are worked with,
highly stressed and aggressive birds should be caught
first to prevent agitation within the rest of the group.
Handlers can capture individual ostriches by using a
shepherd’s crook or by catching the beak in one hand
and pulling the bird’s head down and in the direction
the handler wishes the bird to move. Another option
for moving an individual bird is described in the Ostrich
Business Chamber’s Code of Conduct 106 :
A minimum of three handlers is needed to restrain
an adult bird to avoid injuries to both the ostrich and
handlers. A handler must be positioned at each side of
the ostrich holding the wings. One of these handlers
Species Waveform Frequency (Hz) Electric field strength (V/cm) Electric current density (A/dm2) Duration (s)
Atlantic salmon 91 sine 50–80 0.25–0.5 Insufficient data 10
Rainbow trout 92 sine 50 Insufficient data 8.3 5
Carp 93 sine 50 25.7 0.73 5
African catfish 94 sine 50 18.8 1.5 5
Sea bass 95 sine 50 1 5 1
Halibut 96 sine 50 1 Insufficient data 10
Nile tilapia 97 sine 50 12.5 1 1
Eel (2 steps) 98 sine 50 13 0.7 1
sine 50 3.3 0.17 300
52 AVMA Guidelines for the Humane Slaughter of Animals: 2016 Edition