The effect of the sticking method on the welfare of slaughter pigs

A project was undertaken to investigate the causes of inadequate sticking e ncountered during a survey of pig abattoirs. The results of the investigati on identified the length of the sticking (exsanguination) wound as a major contributor to the problem. Experimental abattoir trials conducted on slaug hter pigs comparing two sticking lengths indicated that the rate of bleed o ut was delayed with short sticking wounds. In addition, information about t he identity of blood vessels severed following sticking was obtained. The r esults indicate that following head-only electrical stunning, a relatively long sticking wound should provide better welfare in slaughter pigs. The st udy has also highlighted the health and safety problems for the operatives as well as the welfare concerns associated with manual application of elect rical stunning. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.