Current stunning and slaughter methods in cattle and sheep - Potential forcarcass contamination with central nervous tissue and microorganisms

Current stunning methods have been Implicated in dissemination of brain tis sue. Such dissemination poses a threat to public health In relation to poss ible slaughter of animals with preclinical BSE. Fragments of brain tissue w ere detected In the jugular venous blood of cattle and sheep slaughtered af ter the use of pneumatically-operated or conventional cartridge-operated pe netrating captive bolt guns. Recent studies with sheep and cattle have also indica, ted that bacterial contamination of carcasses following the use of similar stunning guns is a probability. In addition, splitting of beef car casses by sawing through the vertebral column has been associated with disp ersal of spinal cord material. These developments may soon lead to changes In abattoir practices In Europe.