Rev. sci. tech. Off. int. Epiz., 2005, 24 (2), 693-710

Slaughter of animals for human consumptionA. Shimshony (1) & M.M. Chaudry (2)

(1) Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, Hebrew University, POB 12, Rehovot 76100, Israel(2) The Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America, 5901 N. Cicero Avenue, Chicago, IL 60646, UnitedStates of America

SummaryThis paper briefly describes the formation of the OIE (World Organisation forAnimal Health) Ad hoc Group on Humane Slaughter of Animals, summarises itsinitial discussions and provides details of its recommendations. Theserecommendations were approved (with some amendments) at the 73rd GeneralSession of the OIE International Committee and have been included in the 14thedition of the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code (2005). The recommendationsinclude some changes to current definitions of certain terminology, andguidelines pertaining to the commercial slaughter of animals for humanconsumption, designed to minimise avoidable pain and suffering at every stageof the pre-slaughter and slaughter processes. The main issues addressed by theAd hoc Group were: general principles for slaughter, as related to personnel,animal behaviour, and the removal of distractions which can cause animals tostop or turn back; moving and handling animals following their arrival at theslaughterhouse; lairage design and construction; care of animals in lairages; andanimal welfare issues associated with acceptable handling, restraining,stunning and slaughter methods applicable to various relevant species. Thegroup acknowledged the significance of religious requirements as well as thecultural and ethnic factors associated with slaughter, and appropriate proposalswere included in their final report. Important but less frequently occurring issuessuch as the management of foetuses during the slaughter of pregnant animalswere also included in this work. Finally, the report of the Ad hoc Group alsospecified methods, procedures and practices that are unacceptable on animalwelfare grounds.

KeywordsFoetus – Humane slaughter – Pre-slaughter – Religious – Restraining – Slaughter –Slaughterhouse – Stunning – Treatment – Welfare.

IntroductionThe Ad hoc Group on the Humane Slaughter of Animalswas established to develop standards in line with therecommendations of the permanent OIE (WorldOrganisation for Animal Health) Animal Welfare WorkingGroup. In establishing the membership of the group, theDirector General of the OIE sought to achieve a balance ofregional and cultural views without explicitly seekingrepresentation from interested or professional parties.

The Ad hoc Group convened its first meeting in November2003, discussed the principles to be followed and drafted

general guidelines on the slaughter of animals for humanconsumption. The report of the meeting was presented inFebruary 2004 to participants at the Global Conference onAnimal Welfare organised by the OIE in Paris. During theconference, interested stakeholders participated in adiscussion group on the slaughter of animals for humanconsumption. Members of the Ad hoc Group updated thisdiscussion group on the issues it had considered and theprogress made. The views exchanged during this meetingwere included in the proceedings of the conference andlater presented and discussed, together with writtenresponses from Member Countries and from internationalanimal welfare non-governmental organisations (NGOs),

in the Ad hoc Group’s second (final) meeting. This July2004 meeting was concluded by a final report includingproposed detailed guidelines and several new definitions.The report was endorsed, with some modifications, by theWorking Group on Animal Welfare in December 2004 andput to the Code Commission before being adopted by theInternational Committee at the 2005 OIE General Session.

Summarised discussionsThe Ad hoc Group saw its role as that of evaluatingprocedures and preparing guidelines designed to minimiseavoidable pain and suffering at every stage of the pre-slaughter and slaughter processes, until the death of theanimal. To ensure that its work harmonised with the workof the Ad hoc Groups on land and sea transport, the Ad hocGroup decided that the scope of its work would be taken to commence at the end of the journey to the slaughterhouse.

During the group’s working process, the members relied ondata derived from the relevant scientific literature, assistedwhen necessary by consultations with external experts,and on the experience of individual members in respectivesubjects. Guidelines published by animal welfare NGOswere taken into consideration. The Ad hoc Groupapproached its work by assessing the ethicalconsiderations related to the animal welfare aspects ofslaughter (18), and concentrated on the variousprocedures which are generally applied during the pre-slaughter and slaughter processes, reviewing them on thebasis of the available scientific data, independent of anyreligious or cultural context. These pre-slaughterprocedures included the lairaging, moving, handling,restraining and stunning of the animals (1, 3, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10,11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 22, 25). Once those animal welfareconcerns were addressed, the Ad hoc Group considered thespecific issues associated with slaughter without stunning,such as the necessary restraint, the pain likely to beassociated with the cut (for which it noted that there wereno definitive data) and distress prior to unconsciousness(using available data to estimate the length of this period)(2, 4, 6, 7, 19, 21, 23, 24).

The Ad hoc Group acknowledged the significance ofreligious requirements, and of the cultural and ethnicfactors associated with some forms of slaughter. The Ad hocGroup felt it important that these should not be treated asexempt from the guidelines, which are intended to providea framework within which variations to certain steps in the process may be practised without compromisinganimal welfare.

The Ad hoc Group believed that methods of lairaging andthe moving and restraining of animals before and during

religious slaughter are separate issues from religiousslaughter requirements; with regard to restraint, there is awide variation in methods, ranging from those withacceptable animal welfare to some which are totallyunacceptable under any slaughter method. The Ad hocGroup also contended that some distressful and painfulmethods applied to conscious animals such as shacklingand hoisting by the hind leg(s) or dragging by the leg(s) arenot part of any religious requirements, are unacceptable inmost circumstances, and should be phased out.

The Ad hoc Group encouraged Member Countries toapproach the guidelines with a commitment to continuousincremental improvement to the process of managinganimals prior to and during slaughter. It recognised thatthe sensitivity of addressing possible changes that aredesigned to improve animal welfare during stunning andslaughter would necessitate those changes being discussedwith and within the relevant communities, with a view toachieving their voluntary adoption. The Ad hoc Group wasaware of advances in animal welfare which had alreadybeen achieved in relation to such practices and encouragedfurther improvements, particularly in the area of pre-slaughter restraining methods.

The Ad hoc Group also believed that Member Countriesshould address the issue of the management of foetusesduring the slaughter of pregnant animals (16), and drafteda proposal accordingly.

The draft guidelines, which provide details of the variousslaughter methods with special reference to their respectiveanimal welfare aspects, were completed during the secondmeeting of the Ad hoc Group. At the conclusion of thismeeting, these guidelines, and a set of definitions, wereproposed by the Ad hoc Group as the outcome of its workand were presented to the Animal Welfare Working Groupfor review during its third annual meeting, from 9 to 11 December 2004. The Working Group’s comments andsuggestions for minor modifications were sent to themembers of the Ad hoc Group who, after endorsing most ofthem, approved the following guidelines (a slightlyabridged/amended version is presented here for brevity).The guidelines underwent some changes before beingadopted by the International Committee at the GeneralSession and they have been included in the 14th edition ofthe OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code (the Code). Revisedchapters that address comments received from MemberCountries will be presented at the 2006 General Session.

OutcomeDefinitions The following definitions, which are relevant to theslaughter of animals for human consumption, have been

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reviewed by the Ad hoc Group and are proposed forinclusion within Chapter 1.1.1. (General Definitions) of the Code:

Death – irreversible loss of brain activity as demonstratedby loss of brain stem reflexes

Halal slaughter – slaughter of a religiously acceptablespecies, by a trained Muslim slaughterman, with orwithout prior stunning, by cutting the neck in order tosever the jugular veins and carotid arteries, oesophagusand trachea, without severing the spinal cord, while theanimal is alive

Jhatka slaughter – slaughter of an acceptable species bydecapitation according to the Sikh religion

Killing – any procedure which causes the death of ananimal

Kosher slaughter – slaughter, of a religiously acceptablespecies, by a trained and accredited Jewish slaughterman,by cutting the neck in order to sever the jugular veins andcarotid arteries, oesophagus and trachea of a consciousanimal, without severing the spinal cord

Lairage – pens, yards and other holding areas used foraccommodating animals in order to give them necessaryattention (including water, fodder, rest) before they aremoved on, used for specific purposes, or slaughtered

Restraint – the application to an animal of any proceduredesigned to restrict its movements in order to facilitateeffective management

Slaughter – any procedure which causes the death of ananimal by bleeding

Slaughterhouse – premises, including facilities for movingor lairaging animals, used for the slaughter of animals forhuman consumption or animal feeding and approved bythe national Veterinary Services or other competentauthority

Stunning – any mechanical, electrical, chemical or otherprocedure which causes immediate loss of consciousnesswhich lasts until either the animal is killed or it recovers.

Guidelines for the slaughter of animals forhuman consumptionBased upon the Guiding Principles for Animal Welfare, asdetailed in article 3.7.1.1. of the Code, the Ad hoc Groupformulated Guidelines for the Slaughter of Animals forHuman Consumption. This was done in line with article3.7.1.2. – Scientific Basis for Guidelines.

The text is presented in the following 10 articles, which isincluded as a separate appendix within Section 3.7. –Animal Welfare – of the Code.

Article 1: general principles of slaughter

These guidelines address the need to ensure the welfare offood animals during pre-slaughter and slaughter processes,until they are dead.

These guidelines apply to those domestic animalscommonly slaughtered in slaughterhouses, that is: cattle,buffalo, sheep, goats, deer, horses, pigs, ratites, camelidsand poultry. Other animals, wherever they have beenreared, should be managed to ensure that their transport,lairaging, restraint and slaughter is carried out withoutcausing undue stress to the animals; the principlesunderpinning these guidelines also apply to these animals.

PersonnelPersonnel engaged in the unloading, moving, lairaging,care, restraining, stunning, slaughter and bleeding ofanimals play an important role in the welfare of thoseanimals. For this reason, there should be a sufficientnumber of personnel, who should be patient, considerate,competent and familiar with the guidelines in this document and their application within the national context.

The management of the slaughterhouse and the VeterinaryServices should ensure that slaughterhouse staff performtheir tasks in accordance with the principles of animal welfare.

Animal behaviourAnimal handlers should be experienced and competent inhandling and moving farm livestock, and understand thebehaviour patterns of animals and the underlyingprinciples of good animal handling.

The behaviour of individual animals or groups of animalswill vary, depending on their breed, sex, temperament andage and the way in which they have been reared andhandled. Despite these differences, the following behaviourpatterns, which are always present to some degree indomestic animals, should be taken into consideration inhandling and moving animals:

a) Most domestic livestock are kept in herds and follow aleader by instinct.

b) Animals that are likely to be hostile to each other in agroup situation should not be mixed at slaughterhouses.

c) The desire of some animals to control their personalspace should be taken into account in designing facilities.

d) Domestic animals will try to escape if an animal handlerapproaches closer than a certain distance. This criticaldistance, which defines the flight zone, varies amongspecies and individuals of the same species, and dependsupon previous contact with humans. Animals reared inclose proximity to humans, i.e. tame, have no flight zone,

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whereas those kept in free range or extensive systems mayhave flight zones that may vary from one metre to manymetres. Animal handlers should avoid sudden penetrationof the flight zone as this may cause a panic reaction whichcould lead to aggressive behaviour or attempted escape(Figs 1 and 2).

e) Animal handlers should use the point of balance at ananimal’s shoulder to move animals, adopting a positionbehind the point of balance to move an animal forwardand in front of the point of balance to move it backward.

f) Domestic animals have wide-angle vision but only havelimited forward binocular vision and poor perception ofdepth. This means that they can detect objects andmovements beside and behind them, but can only judgedistances directly ahead.

g) Although all domestic animals have a highly sensitivesense of smell, they react in different ways to the smells ofslaughterhouses. Smells that cause fear or other negativeresponses should be taken into consideration whenmanaging animals.

h) Domestic animals can hear over a greater range offrequencies than humans and are more sensitive to higherfrequencies. They tend to be alarmed by constant loudnoise and by sudden noises, which may cause them topanic.

Distractions and their removalDistractions that may cause approaching animals to stop,baulk or turn back should not be included in the design ofnew facilities and removed from existing ones. Table Ishows examples of common distractions and methods ofeliminating them.

Article 2: moving and handling animals

The following principles should apply to unloadinganimals, moving them into lairage pens, out of the lairagepens and up to the slaughter point:

– the condition of the animals should be assessed upontheir arrival to check for any animal welfare problems

– injured or sick animals requiring immediate slaughtershould be killed humanely at the site where they are found

– the use of force on animals that have little or no room tomove should not occur

– instruments that administer electric shocks (e.g. goadsand prods) to assist the movement of animals should onlybe used when absolutely necessary (the power output ofeach shock should also be restricted). If such use isnecessary, it should be limited to the hindquarters of pigsand large ruminants, and never on sensitive areas such asthe eyes, mouth, ears, anogenital region or belly. Suchinstruments should not be used on horses, sheep and goatsof any age, or on calves or piglets, nor on animals that havelittle or no room to move.

Performance standards should be established in whichnumerical scoring is used to evaluate the use of suchinstruments and to measure the percentage of animalsmoved with an electric instrument. In properly designedand constructed facilities with competent animal handlers,it should be possible to move 75% or more of the animalswithout the use of electric instruments.

Acceptable aids for moving animals include panels, flags,plastic paddles, flappers (a length of cane with a short strapof leather or canvas attached), plastic bags and metallicrattles. These instruments should be used in a mannersufficient to encourage and direct movement of the animalsbut without physical contact with them.

Shouting or yelling at animals to encourage them to moveshould not occur as such actions may make the animalsagitated, leading to crowding or falling.

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Edge of flight zone

Blind spot shaded gray

Point of balance

45º

90º

60º BA

Handler positionto stopmovement

Return path leaving flight zone

Path to move animals forward

Restrainer

Point of balance

Fig. 1An example of a flight zone (cattle)

Fig. 2Handler movement pattern to move cattle forward

Implements that cause pain and suffering such as largesticks, sticks with sharp ends, metal piping, fencing wire orheavy leather belts should not be used to move animals.

Animals should be grasped or lifted in a manner whichavoids pain or suffering and physical damage (e.g. bruising, fractures, dislocations). In the case ofquadrupeds, manual lifting by a person should only beused with young animals or small species, and in a mannerappropriate to the species; grasping or lifting such animalsonly by their wool, hair, feet, neck, ears or tails causes painand suffering and should not be permitted, except in anemergency where animal welfare or human safety mayotherwise be compromised.

Conscious animals should not be thrown or dragged.

Animals should not be forced to move at a speed greaterthan their normal walking pace, in order to minimiseinjury through falling or slipping. Performance standardsshould be established where numerical scoring of theprevalence of animals slipping or falling is used to evaluatewhether animal moving practices and/or facilities shouldbe improved. In properly designed and constructedfacilities with competent animal handlers, it should bepossible to move 99% of animals without their falling.

Animal handlers should not force an animal to walk overthe top of other animals.

Under no circumstances should animal handlers resort toviolent acts to move animals, such as crushing or breakinganimals’ tails, grasping animals’ eyes or pulling them bytheir ears. Animal handlers should never apply aninjurious object or irritant substance to sensitive areas suchas eyes, mouth, ears, the anogenital region or the belly.

Requirements for animals delivered in containersContainers in which animals are transported should behandled with care, and should not be thrown, dropped or

knocked over. Where possible, they should be loaded andunloaded horizontally and mechanically.

Animals delivered in containers with perforated or flexiblebottoms should be unloaded with particular care in orderto avoid injury. Where appropriate, animals should beunloaded from the containers individually.

Animals that have been transported in containers shouldbe slaughtered as soon as possible; mammals and ratiteswhich are not taken directly upon arrival to the place ofslaughter should have drinking water available to themfrom appropriate facilities at all times. Delivery of poultryfor slaughter should be scheduled such that they are notdeprived of water at the premises for longer than 12 h.Animals that have not been slaughtered within 12 h oftheir arrival should be fed, and should subsequently begiven moderate amounts of food at appropriate intervals.

Provisions relevant to restraining and containing animalsProvisions relevant to restraining animals for stunning orslaughter without stunning, to help maintain animalwelfare include:

– provision of a non-slip floor

– ensuring that the restraining equipment does not exertexcessive pressure, thus causing the animal to struggle orvocalise

– engineering equipment to reduce the noise of hissing airand clanging metal

– ensuring that restraining equipment has no sharp edgesthat would harm animals

– using restraining devices appropriately and not jerkingthem or making other sudden movements.

Methods of restraint causing avoidable suffering, such asthe following, should not be used with conscious animalsbecause they cause severe pain and stress:

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Table IMethods for eliminating distractions that commonly cause animals to stop or turn back

Distraction Elimination method

Reflections on shiny metal or wet floors Move a lamp or change lighting

Dark entrances to chutes, races, stun boxes or conveyor restrainers Illuminate with indirect lighting that does not shine directly into the eyes of

approaching animals

Animals seeing moving people or equipment up ahead Install solid sides on chutes and races or install shields

Chains or other loose objects hanging in chutes or on fences Remove them

Uneven floors or a sudden drop in floor level at the entrance to conveyor restrainers Avoid uneven floor surfaces or install a solid false floor under the restrainer to

provide an illusion of a solid and continuous walking surface

Sounds of air hissing from pneumatic equipment Install silencers or use hydraulic equipment

Clanging and banging of metal objects Install rubber stops on gates and other devices to reduce metal to metal contact

Air currents from fans or air curtains blowing into the face of animals Redirect or reposition equipment

– suspending or hoisting large animals (other thanpoultry) by the feet or legs

– indiscriminate and inappropriate use of stunningequipment

– mechanical clamping of an animal’s legs or feet (otherthan shackles used for poultry and ostriches) as the solemethod of restraint

– breaking legs, cutting leg tendons or blinding animals inorder to immobilise them

– immobilising animals by severing the spinal cord, e.g.by using a dagger such as a ‘puntilla’

– using electric currents to immobilise animals, except forproper stunning.

Article 3: lairage design and construction

The lairage should be designed and constructed to hold anappropriate number of animals in relation to thethroughput rate of the slaughterhouse withoutcompromising the welfare of the animals.

In order to permit operations to be conducted as smoothlyand efficiently as possible without injury or undue stress tothe animals, the lairage areas should be designed andconstructed so as to allow the animals to move freely in therequired direction, using their behavioural characteristicsand without undue penetration of their flight zone.

The following guidelines may help to achieve this.

DesignThe lairage should be designed to allow a one-way flow ofanimals from unloading to the point of slaughter, with aminimum of abrupt corners to negotiate.

In red meat slaughterhouses, pens, passageways and racesshould be arranged in such a way as to permit inspectionof animals at any time, and to permit the removal of sickor injured animals when considered appropriate; separateappropriate accommodation should be provided for these animals.

Each animal should have room to stand up and lie downand, when confined in a pen, to turn around. The lairageshould have sufficient accommodation for the number ofanimals intended to be held. Drinking water should alwaysbe available to the animals, and the method of deliveryshould be appropriate to the type of animal held. Troughsshould be designed and installed in such a way as tominimise the risk of them becoming fouled by faeces, butwithout introducing the risk of bruising and injury toanimals and without hindering their movement.

Holding pens should be rectangular rather than square, toallow as many animals as possible to stand or lie down

against a wall. Where feed troughs are provided, theyshould be sufficient in number and feeding space to allowall animals adequate access to feed. The feed trough shouldnot hinder the movement of animals.

Where tethers, ties or individual stalls are used, theseshould be designed so as not to cause injury or distress,especially when the animals are lying down, standing up,drinking and feeding.

Passageways and races should be either straight or slightlycurved, as appropriate to the animal species. Passagewaysand races should have solid sides, but when there is adouble race the shared partition should allow adjacentanimals to see each other. For pigs and sheep, passagewaysshould be wide enough to enable two or more animals towalk side by side for as long as possible. At the point wherepassageways are reduced in width, this should be done bya means that prevents excessive bunching of the animals.

Animal handlers should be positioned alongside races andpassageways on the inside radius of any curve, to takeadvantage of the natural tendency of animals to circle anintruder. Where one-way gates are used, they should be ofa design that avoids bruising. Races should be horizontal,but where there is a slope, they should be constructed toallow the free movement of animals without injury.

There should be a waiting pen, with a level floor and solidsides, between the holding pens and the race leading to thepoint of stunning or slaughter, to ensure a steady supply ofanimals for stunning or slaughter and to avoid havinganimal handlers trying to rush animals from the holdingpens. The waiting pen should be designed so that animalscannot be trapped or trampled (ideally waiting pensshould be circular).

Ramps or lifts should be used for loading and unloadinganimals where there is a difference in height or a gapbetween the floor of the vehicle and the unloading area.The ramp should be well drained, not slippery andadjustable to facilitate easy movement of animals withoutcausing distress or injury.

ConstructionLairages should be constructed and maintained so as toprovide protection from unfavourable climatic conditions,using strong and resistant materials, such as concrete andmetal, that have been treated to prevent corrosion. Surfacesshould be easy to clean. There should be no sharp edges orprotuberances that may injure the animals.

Floors should be well drained and not slippery; theyshould not cause injury to the feet of the animals. Wherenecessary floors should be insulated or covered withappropriate bedding. Drainage grids should be placed atthe sides of pens and passageways and not where animals

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would have to cross them. Discontinuities or changes infloor patterns or texture that could cause baulking in themovement of animals should be avoided.

Lairages should be provided with adequate lighting, butcare should be taken to avoid harsh lights and shadows,which frighten the animals or affect their movement. Thefact that animals will move more readily from a darker areainto a well-lit area might be exploited by providing lightingthat can be regulated accordingly.

Lairages should be well ventilated, and the air flow shouldbe arranged so that odours and draughts do not adverselyaffect the health and welfare of the animals.

Care should be taken to protect the animals frompotentially disturbing noises, for example by avoiding theuse of noisy hydraulic or pneumatic equipment, andmuffling noisy metal equipment by the use of suitablepadding, or by minimising the transmission of such noiseto the areas where animals are held and slaughtered.

Where animals are kept in outdoor lairages without naturalshelter or shade, they should be protected from the effectsof adverse weather conditions.

Article 4: care in lairages

Animals in lairages should be cared for in accordance withthe following guidelines:

– as far as possible, established groups of animals shouldbe kept together. Each animal should have enough space tostand up, lie down and turn around. Animals hostile toeach other should be separated

– where tethers, ties or individual stalls are used theyshould allow animals to stand up and lie down withoutcausing injury or distress

– where bedding is provided, it should be maintained in acondition that minimises risks to the health and safety ofthe animals, and sufficient quantity should be used so thatanimals do not become soiled with manure

– animals should be kept securely in the lairage and careshould be taken to prevent them from escaping and frompredators

– suitable drinking water should be available to theanimals on their arrival and throughout the time theyremain in lairages, unless they are to be slaughteredwithout delay

– if animals are not to be slaughtered as soon as possible,suitable feed should be available to the animals on arrivaland at intervals appropriate to the species. Unweanedanimals should be slaughtered as soon as possible

– in order to prevent heat stress, animals subjected to hightemperatures, particularly pigs and poultry, should be

cooled by the use of water sprays, fans or other suitable means

– the lairage area should be well lit in order to enable theanimals to see clearly without being dazzled. During the night, the lights should be dimmed

– the condition and health status of the animals in alairage should be inspected at least every morning andevening by a veterinarian or, under the latter’sresponsibility, by another competent person. Animals thatare sick, weak, injured or showing visible signs of distressshould be treated or killed immediately

– lactating dairy animals should be slaughtered as soon aspossible. Dairy animals with obvious udder distensionshould be milked to minimise udder discomfort

– pregnant animals giving birth during the journey or inthe lairage should be slaughtered as soon as possible orprovided with conditions that are appropriate for sucklingand the welfare of the newborn

– animals with horns or tusks capable of injuring otheranimals, if aggressive, should be penned separately.

Recommendations for specific species are described indetail in Articles 6, 7, 8 and 9.

Article 5: management of foetuses during theslaughter of pregnant animals

The welfare of foetuses during the slaughter of pregnantanimals needs to be safeguarded, as follows:

– the foetus must be unconscious before being removedfrom the uterus; to ensure that this is the case they shouldbe removed no sooner that 5 min after the maternal neckor chest cut. A foetal heartbeat will usually still be presentand foetal movements may occur at this stage, but these areonly a cause for concern if the exposed foetus successfullybreathes air

– if a live mature foetus is removed from the uterus, itshould be prevented from inflating its lungs and breathingair (e.g. by clamping the trachea)

– when uterine, placental or foetal tissues, includingfoetal blood, are not to be collected as part of the post-slaughter processing of pregnant animals, all foetusesshould be left inside the unopened uterus until they aredead. When uterine, placental or foetal tissues are to becollected, where practical, foetuses should not be removedfrom the uterus until at least 15 min to 20 min after thematernal neck or chest cut

– if there is any doubt about consciousness, the foetusshould be killed with a captive bolt or a blow to the headwith a suitable blunt instrument.

The above guidelines do not refer to foetal rescue. Foetalrescue, the practice of attempting to revive foetuses found

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alive at evisceration of the dam, should not be attemptedduring normal commercial slaughter as it may lead toserious welfare complications in the newborn animal.These include impaired brain function resulting fromoxygen shortage before rescue is completed, compromisedbreathing and body heat production because of foetalimmaturity, and an increased incidence of infections due toa lack of colostrum.

Article 6: handling and restraining methods

Table II provides a summary of acceptable handling andrestraining methods, and the associated animal welfare issues.

Article 7: stunning methods

GeneralThe competence of the operators, and the appropriatenessand effectiveness of the method used for stunning are theresponsibility of the management of the slaughterhouse,and should be checked regularly by a competent authority.Persons carrying out stunning should be properly trainedand competent, and should ensure that:

– the animal is adequately restrained

– animals in restraints are stunned as soon as possible

– the equipment used for stunning is maintained andoperated properly in accordance with the manufacturer’srecommendations, in particular with regard to the speciesand size of the animal

– the instrument is applied correctly

– stunned animals are bled out (slaughtered) as soon aspossible

– animals are not stunned when slaughter is likely to bedelayed.

In addition, when an animal is not properly stunned, aback-up procedure must be used immediately.

Mechanical stunningA mechanical device should be applied, usually to the frontof the head and perpendicular to the bone surface. Figures3 to 8 illustrate the proper application of the device forcertain species.

Signs of correct stunning using a mechanical instrumentare as follows:

– the animal collapses immediately and does not attemptto stand up

– the body and muscles of the animal become tonic (rigid)immediately after the shot

– normal rhythmic breathing temporarily stops

– the eyelid is open with the eyeball facing straight aheadand is not rotated.

Electrical stunningDirect contactAn electrical device should be applied to the animal inaccordance with the following guidelines.

To ensure that the flow of current is optimal, electrodesshould be well designed and constructed, cleanedregularly, and maintained in accordance with themanufacturer’s specifications. They should be placed sothat they span the brain. The application of electricalcurrent that bypasses the brain is unacceptable unless theanimal has already been stunned. The use of a singlecurrent leg-to-leg device is unacceptable as a stunning method.

If the electrical stunning is intended to cause cardiac arrest,the electrodes should either span the brain andimmediately thereafter the heart, on the condition that ithas been ascertained that the animal is adequately stunned,or alternately span the brain and heart simultaneously.

Electrical stunning equipment should not be applied onanimals as a means of guidance, movement, restraint orimmobilisation, and should not deliver any shock to theanimal before the actual stunning or killing.

Before being used on animals, electrical stunningapparatus should be tested using appropriate resistors ordummy loads to ensure the power output is adequate tostun animals.

The apparatus should incorporate a device that monitorsand displays the stunning current delivered to the animals.Appropriate measures, such as removing excess wool orwetting the skin only at the point of contact, can be takento minimise impedance of the skin and facilitate effectivestunning.

The apparatus required for electrical stunning should beprovided with adequate power to continuously achieve theminimum current level recommended for stunning, asindicated in Table III.

In all cases, the correct current level shall be attainedwithin 1 s of the initiation of stun and maintained forbetween 1 s and 3 s, in accordance with the manufacturer’sinstructions.

Electrical stunning of birds using a waterbathIn the case of birds suspended on a moving line, measuresshould be taken to ensure that the birds are not wingflapping at the entrance of the stunner. The birds should besecure in their shackles, but there should not be unduepressure on their shanks.

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Table IISummary of acceptable handling and restraining methods, and the associated animal welfare issues

Animal welfare concerns Key animal welfare /implications requirements

No restraintAnimals are grouped together Gas stunning Improper handling and the high Competent animal handlers in Pigs, poultryin a container density of animals create stress lairage; facilities; stocking density

Animals remain in the field Free bullet Inappropriate shooting distance, Operator competence Deercalibre and ballistics; missing the vital organ or body part that is targeted will cause great suffering

Animals are held in a group Electrical stunning Uncontrolled movement of animals Competent animal handlers in Pigs, sheep, goats,stunning pen (head-only); impedes use of hand operated lairage and at stunning point calves

captive bolt electrical and mechanical stunning methods

Individual animals are confined Electrical and Accuracy of stunning method, if the Competent animal handlers; Cattle, buffalo, sheep,in a stunning pen/box mechanical floor is slippery animals may fall proper design and maintenance goats, horses, pigs,

stunning methods down as they are being loaded of floors deer, camelids, ratitesHead restraint

Animal is held upright in a halter Captive bolt; free This method is suitable for halter- Competent animal handlers Cattle, buffalo, horses, /head collar/bridle bullet trained animals but will cause camelids

stress in untrained animals

Animal is held upright in a neck yoke Captive bolt; electrical Stress of loading and neck capture; Equipment; competent animal Cattlehead-only stunning; stress of prolonged restraint, horn handlers; prompt stunning and/free bullet; slaughter configuration; less suitable for fast or slaughterwithout stunning line speeds, animals struggling

and falling due to slippery floor, excessive pressure

The animal’s head is restrained Electrical head-only Stress of capture and positioning Competent animal handler Ostrichesin an electrical stunning box stunning

Leg restraintAnimal stands on three legs and Captive bolt; free bullet Ineffective control of animal Competent animal handlers Breeding pigs (boarsthe other leg is tied in flexion movement, misdirected shots and sows)

Three of the four legs are tied Mechanical stunning Stress of resisting restraint; Competent animal handlers. Sheep, goats, smallmethods; slaughter prolonged restraint, animal Keep restraint as short as camelids, pigswithout stunning temperament; bruising possible

Animal is restrained using a Electrical head-only Stress of resisting restraint Competent animal handlers; Ostrichesmechanical leg clamp stunning proper equipment design

and operation

Upright restraintAnimal is held at the beak Captive bolt; electrical Stress of capture Sufficient competent animal Ostriches

head-only stunning handlers

The whole body is manually Captive bolt; electrical Stress of capture and restraint; Competent animal handlers Sheep, goats, calves,held upright head-only stunning; accuracy of stunning/slaughter ratites, small

slaughter without camelids, poultrystunning

The whole body is held upright Captive bolt; electrical Stress of loading of animal; Proper design and operation Cattle, calves, buffalo,using a mechanical clamp/crush methods; slaughter excessive pressure, size mismatch of equipment sheep, goats, deer,/squeeze/V-restrainer (static) without stunning between restrainer and animal pigs, ostriches

Animal is restrained using Slaughter without Stress of loading of animal Competent animal handlers Cattle, sheep, goats,a mechanical straddle (static) stunning; electrical pigs

methods; captive bolt

Wing shackling with beak holding Electrical stunning Excessive tension applied prior Competent animal handlers Ostriches(mechanical or manual) to stunning

Animal is restrained using Electrical methods; Stress of loading of animal; size Competent animal handlers; Cattle, calves, sheep,a mechanical straddle/ captive bolt; slaughter mismatch between restrainer proper design and layout of goats, pigsband restrainer (moving) without stunning and animal restraint

Animal is mechanically restrained Presentation of birds Stress and injury due to tipping in Proper design and operation Chickenson a flat bed/deck before being for shackling prior to dump-module systems; height of of equipmenttipped out of containers on to electrical stunning; tipping; conscious poultry; brokenconveyors gas stunning bones and dislocations

Applicable speciesRestraint method Specific purpose

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Table II (cont.)Summary of acceptable handling and restraining methods, and the associated animal welfare issues

Animal welfare concerns Key animal welfare /implications requirements

Lateral restraintManual or mechanical, using Slaughter without Stress of restraint Competent animal handlers Sheep, goats, calves,a restrainer/cradle stunning camelids, cattle

Suspension/inversionUsing shackles Electrical stunning; Inversion stress; pain from Competent animal handlers; Poultry

slaughter without compression on leg bones proper design and operationstunning of equipment

Using a cone Electrical head-only Inversion stress Competent animal handlers; Poultrystunning; captive bolt; proper design and operationslaughter without of equipmentstunning

Animal is inverted in a rotating box Slaughter without Inversion stress; stress of resisting Proper design and operation of Cattlewith a fixed side (s) e.g. Weinberg stunning restraint; prolonged restraint equipment. Keep restraint as

brief as possible

Animal is inverted in a rotating box Slaughter without Inversion stress; stress of resisting Proper design and operation Cattlewith a compressible side (s) stunning restraint; prolonged restraint. of equipment. Keep restraint

Preferable to rotating box with as brief as possiblefixed sides

CastingAnimal is cast/hobbled manually Mechanical stunning Stress of resisting restraint; animal Competent animal handlers. Sheep, goats, calves,

methods; slaughter temperament; bruising Keep restraint as short as small camelids, pigswithout stunning possible

Animal is cast with a rope and held Mechanical stunning Stress of resisting restraint; Competent animal handlers. Cattle, camelidsin leg restraints methods; slaughter prolonged restraint; animal Keep restraint as short as

without stunning temperament; bruising possible

Aim at the point halfway between the top of the head andthe imaginary line between the eyes and place the muzzleat right angles to the frontal surface

Fig. 3Mechanical stunning of cattle

Place the muzzle about 2.5 cm to 5 cm above the level ofthe eyes, and at right angles to the frontal surface

Fig. 4Mechanical stunning of pigs

In hornless sheep use the highest point of the head and aimtowards the angle of the jaw

Fig. 5Mechanical stunning of hornless sheep

In hornless goats use the highest point of the head and aimtowards the angle of the jaw. For horned goats, place themuzzle just behind the ridge which runs between the hornsand aim towards the mouth

Fig. 7Mechanical stunning of goats

For horned sheep place the muzzle just behind the ridgewhich runs between the horns and aim towards the mouth

Fig. 6Mechanical stunning of horned sheep

Place the muzzle at right angles to the frontal surface wellabove the point where two imaginary lines from the eyesto the ears cross

Fig. 8Mechanical stunning of horses

Restraint method Specific purpose Applicable species

Table IVRecommended current for irreversible electrical stunning ofbirds

Species Recommended current(milliamperes per bird)

Broilers 120

Layers (spent hens) 120

Turkeys 150

Ducks and geese 130

Waterbaths for poultry should be adequate in size anddepth for the type of bird being slaughtered, and theirheight should be adjustable to allow for the head of eachbird to be immersed. The electrode immersed in the bathshould extend the full length of the waterbath.

The waterbath should be designed and maintained in sucha way that when the shackles pass over the water they arein continuous contact with the earthed rubbing bar.

The control box for the waterbath stunner shouldincorporate an ammeter, which displays the total currentflowing through the birds.

The shackle-to-leg contact should be wetted, preferablybefore the birds are inserted in the shackles. In order toimprove the electrical conductivity of the water it isrecommended that salt be added to the waterbath as necessary.

Birds should receive the current for at least 4 s.

Using waterbaths, birds are stunned in groups anddifferent birds will have different impedances. The voltageshould be adjusted so that the total current is the requiredcurrent per bird as shown in Table IV, multiplied by thenumber of birds in the waterbath at the same time. The table shows values found to be satisfactory whenemploying a 50 Hz sinusoidal alternating current.

While a lower current may also be satisfactory, the currentshall in any case be such as to ensure that unconsciousnessoccurs immediately and lasts until the bird has been killedby cardiac arrest or by bleeding. When higher electricalfrequencies are used, higher currents may be required.

Every effort should be made to ensure that no conscious orlive birds enter the scalding tank.

In the case of automatic systems, until fail-safe systems ofstunning and bleeding have been introduced, a manualback-up system should be in place to ensure that any birdswhich have missed the waterbath stunner and/or the

automatic neck-cutter are immediately stunned and/orhumanely killed, and they are dead before entering thescalding tank.

To lessen the number of unstunned birds reaching neckcutters, steps should be taken to ensure that small birds donot go on the line amongst bigger birds and that thesesmall birds are stunned separately.

Gas stunningStunning of pigs by exposure to carbon dioxideThe concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) for stunningshould ideally be 90% by volume and certainly no lessthan 80% by volume. After entering the stunning chamberthe animals should be conveyed to the point of maximumconcentration of the gas and be kept there until they aredead or brought into a state of insensibility which lastsuntil death occurs due to bleeding. Ideally, pigs should beexposed to this concentration of CO2 for 3 min. Theconcentration of the gas should be such that it minimisesas far as possible all stress of the animal prior to loss of consciousness.

The chamber in which animals are exposed to CO2 and theequipment used for conveying them through it shall bedesigned, constructed and maintained in such a way as toavoid injury or unnecessary stress to the animals. Theanimal density within the chamber should be such that itis unnecessary to stack animals on top of each other.

The conveyor and the chamber should be adequately lit toallow the animals to see their surroundings and, if possible,each other.

It should be possible to inspect the CO2 chamber while itis in use, and to have access to the animals in emergency cases.

The chamber should be equipped to continuously measureand display the CO2 concentration at the point of stunningand the time of exposure, and to give a clearly visible andaudible warning if the concentration of CO2 falls below therequired level.

Rev. sci. tech. Off. int. Epiz., 24 (2) 703

Table IIIMinimum current level recommended for stunning

Species Minimum current levels(amperes per animal)

Cattle 1.5

Calves 1.0

Pigs 1.25

Sheep and goats 0.5

Ostriches 0.4

Inert gas mixtures for stunning pigsInhalation of a high concentration of CO2 is aversive andcan be distressing to animals. Therefore, the use of non-aversive gas mixtures is being developed as follows:

a) a maximum of 2% by volume of oxygen in argon,nitrogen or other inert gases, or

b) a maximum of 30% by volume of CO2 and a maximumof 2% by volume of oxygen in mixtures with CO2 andargon, nitrogen or other inert gases.

Exposure time to the gas mixtures should be sufficient toensure that no pigs regain consciousness before deathoccurs through loss of blood or a cardiac arrest.

Gas stunning of poultryThe main objective of gas stunning is to avoid the pain andsuffering of waterbath stunning and killing systems, whichinvolve shackling conscious poultry. Therefore, gasstunning should be limited to birds contained in crates oron conveyors only. The gas mixture should be non-aversiveto poultry.

Gas stunning of poultry in their transport containers willeliminate the need for live bird handling at the processingplant and all the problems associated with electricalstunning. Similarly, gas stunning of poultry on a conveyoreliminates the problems associated with electrical waterbath stunning.

a) Gas mixtures used for stunning poultry:

– a minimum of 2 min exposure to 40% CO2, 30%oxygen and 30% nitrogen, followed by a minimum of 1 min. exposure to 80% CO2 in air

– a minimum of 2 min exposure to any mixture of argon,nitrogen or other inert gases with atmospheric air and CO2,provided that the CO2 concentration does not exceed 30%by volume and the residual oxygen concentration does notexceed 2% by volume

– a minimum of 2 min exposure to argon, nitrogen, otherinert gases or any mixture of these gases in atmospheric airwith a maximum of 2% residual oxygen by volume

– a minimum of 2 min exposure to a minimum of 55%CO2 in air.

b) Requirements for effective use:

– compressed gases should be vaporised before beingadministered into the chamber

– under no circumstances, should solid gases withfreezing temperatures enter the chamber

– gas mixtures should be humidified according to thesupplier’s specifications

– the concentration of gas in the chamber should becontinuously monitored and displayed to ensure that it is appropriate.

Under no circumstances should birds exposed to gasmixtures be allowed to regain consciousness. If necessary,the exposure time to the gas should be extended.

BleedingFrom the point of view of animal welfare, animals that arestunned with a reversible method should be bled withoutdelay and certainly within the time limits shown in Table V.

All animals should be bled by incising both carotidarteries, or the vessels from which they arise. However,when the stunning method used causes cardiac arrest, theincision of all of these vessels is not necessary.

It should be possible for staff to observe, inspect and accessthe animals throughout the bleeding period. Any animalshowing signs of recovering consciousness should be re-stunned.

After incision of the blood vessels, no scalding carcasstreatment or dressing procedures should be performed onthe animals for at least 30 s, and definitely not before allbrain-stem reflexes have ceased.

Article 8: acceptable stunning methods

Table VI provides a summary of acceptable stunningmethods and the associated animal welfare issues.

Article 9: acceptable slaughter methods

Table VII provides a summary of acceptable slaughtermethods, and the associated animal welfare issues.

Article 10: methods, procedures or practicesunacceptable on animal welfare grounds

Restraining methods that immobilise animals by injuringthem, e.g. by breaking their legs, cutting their leg tendonsor severing their spinal chord with a ‘puntilla’, cause severepain and stress in animals. These methods are notacceptable in any species.

Rev. sci. tech. Off. int. Epiz., 24 (2)704

Table VMaximum delay for bleeding of stunned animals

Maximum delay for bleeding to be started

Electrical methods and 20 snon-penetrating bolt

Carbon dioxide 60 s (after leaving the chamber)

Stunning method

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Table VISummary of acceptable stunning methods and the associated animal welfare issues

Animal welfare Key animal welfare concerns/implications requirements

Mechanical Free bullet Inaccurate targeting and Accuracy; head shots only; Cattle, calves, buffalo, Care must be taken not

inappropriate ballistics correct ballistics deer, horses, pigs to endanger the safety

(boars and sows) of personnel

Captive bolt – Inaccurate targeting; Competent operation and Cattle, calves, buffalo, Unsuitable for specimen

penetrating velocity and diameter maintenance of equipment; sheep, goats, deer, horses, collection from TSE

of bolt restraint; accuracy pigs, camelids, ratites suspects. A back-up gun should

be available in the event of an

ineffective shot

Captive bolt – Inaccurate targeting; Competent operation and Cattle, calves, sheep, goats, Presently available devices

non-penetrating velocity of bolt; maintenance of equipment; deer, pigs, camelids, ratites are not recommended for

potentially higher restraint; accuracy young bulls and animals with

failure rate than thick skull

penetrating captive bolt

Manual percussive Inaccurate targeting; Competent animal handlers; Young and small mammals, Mechanical devices potentially

blow insufficient power; size restraint; accuracy. Not ostriches and poultry more reliable. Where manual

of instrument recommended for general percussive blow is used,

use unconsciousness should be

achieved with a single sharp

blow delivered to the central

skull bones

Electrical Split application: Accidental pre-stun Competent operation and Cattle, calves, sheep, goats, Systems involving repeated

1. across head electric shocks; wrong maintenance of equipment; pigs, ratites and poultry application of head-only or

then head to chest electrode positioning; restraint; accuracy head-to-leg with short current

2. across head application of a current durations (< 1 s) in the first

then across chest to the body while animal application should not be used.

is conscious; inadequate Where cardiac arrest occurs,

current and voltage the carcass may not be suitable

for Halal

Single application: Accidental pre-stun electric Competent operation and Cattle, calves, sheep, goats, Where cardiac arrest occurs,

1. head only shocks; inadequate current maintenance of equipment; pigs, ratites, poultry the carcass may not be suitable

2. head to body and voltage; wrong restraint; accuracy for Halal

3. head to leg electrode positioning;

recovery of consciousness

Waterbath Restraint, accidental Competent operation and Poultry only Where cardiac arrest occurs,

pre-stun electric shocks; maintenance of equipment the carcass may not be

inadequate current and suitable for Halal

voltage; recovery of

consciousness

Gaseous CO2 air/O2 Aversiveness of high CO2; Concentration; duration of Pigs, poultry Gaseous methods may not be

mixture; respiratory distress; exposure; design, suitable for Halal

CO2 inert gas inadequate exposure maintenance and

mixture operation of equipment;

stocking density management

Inert gases Recovery of consciousness Concentration; duration of Pigs, poultry Gaseous methods may not be

exposure; design, suitable for Halal

maintenance and operation

of equipment; stocking density

management

CO2 : carbon dioxideTSE : transmissible spongiform encephalopathy

Stunning method Specific method Species Comment

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Table VIISummary of acceptable slaughter methods, and the associated animal welfare issues

Animal welfare Key animal welfare concerns/implications requirements

Bleeding out by severance of Full frontal cutting Failure to cut both common A very sharp blade or knife, Cattle, buffalo, horses, This method is blood vessels in the neck across the throat carotid arteries; occlusion of of sufficient length so that camelids, sheep, goats, applicable to Halal andwithout stunning cut arteries the point of the knife remains poultry, ratites Kosher for relevant

outside the incision during speciesthe cut; the point of the knife should not be used to make the incision; an incision that does not close over the knife during the throat cut

Bleeding with prior stunning Neck stab followed Ineffective stunning; failure Prompt and accurate cutting Camelids, sheep, goats,by forward cut to cut both common carotid poultry, ratites

arteries; impaired blood flow; delay in cutting after reversible stunning

Neck stab alone Ineffective stunning; failure to Prompt and accurate cutting Camelids, sheep, goats,cut both common carotid poultry, ratitesarteries; impaired blood flow; delay in cutting after reversible stunning

Chest stick into Ineffective stunning; inadequate Prompt and accurate sticking Cattle, sheep, goats, pigmajor arteries or size of stick wound; inadequatehollow-tube knife length of sticking knife; delay ininto heart sticking after reversible stunning

Neck skin cut Ineffective stunning; inadequate Prompt and accurate cutting Cattlefollowed by size of stick wound; inadequate of vesselsseverance of length of sticking knife; delayvessels in the neck in sticking after reversible

stunning

Automated Ineffective stunning; failure Design, maintenance and Poultry onlymechanical cutting to cut; misplaced cuts; operation of equipment;

recovery of consciousness accuracy of cut; manual following reversible stunning back-upsystems

Manual neck cut Ineffective stunning; recovery Prior non-reversible stunning Poultry only Slow induction of on one side of consciousness following unconsciousness under

reversible stunning systems slaughter without stunning

Oral cut Ineffective stunning; recovery Prior non-reversible stunning Poultry onlyof consciousness following reversible stunning systems

Other methods without Decapitation with Pain due to loss of consciousness Sheep, goats, poultry This method is onlystunning a sharp knife not being immediate applicable to Jhatka

(slaughter bydecapitation accordingto the Sikh religion)

Manual neck Pain due to loss of consciousness Neck dislocation should be Poultry onlydislocation and not being immediate; difficult to performed in one stretch todecapitation achieve in large birds sever the spinal cord

Cardiac arrest in a waterbath electric stunner Bleeding by Failure to induce cardiac arrest Induction of cardiac arrest Quail

evisceration by adequate current

Bleeding by neck Failure to induce cardiac arrest Induction of cardiac arrest Poultrycutting by adequate current

Slaughter method Specific method Species Comment

The use of the electrical stunning method with a singlecurrent applied leg to leg is ineffective and unacceptable inany species. The electrocution in this way is likely to bepainful. The animal welfare concerns are:

– accidental pre-stun electric shocks

– inadequate current and voltage

– incorrect electrode positioning

– recovery of consciousness.

Slaughtering animals by piercing the eye socket or skullbone in order to sever the brain stem is not acceptable inany species covered in this document.

ConclusionsThe slaughter of animals for human consumption has beenpractised since the beginning of food-animaldomestication during prehistoric times. Killing animals,the most brutal act in the relationship between humanbeings and domestic animals, is an inevitable stage in thefood production cycle. In view of the increasinglyprevailing ethical attitude of society, and its recognitionthat animals are capable of suffering, it has becomenecessary to minimise animal suffering during all stages oflife. The Ad hoc Group approached its work by assessingthe animal welfare concerns associated with everyprocedure during the commercial pre-slaughter andslaughter processes, reviewing them on the basis of theavailable scientific data, independent of any religious orcultural context, and recognising the necessity to avoidstress during each of the stages preceding the death of ananimal. These stages include the unloading, lairaging,moving, restraining, stunning and bleeding. The Ad hocGroup considered the specific issues associated withcommercial slaughter without stunning, acknowledgingthe significance of religious requirements and the ritual,cultural and ethnic factors associated with some forms ofcommercial slaughter. It was felt that these should not betreated as exempt from the proposed guidelines, which areintended to provide a framework within which variationsto certain steps in the process may be practised to improve

animal welfare or at least not to compromise it. Thisobjective could be achieved by training employees,modifying the way in which restrainers and stunners areused, eliminating distractions which make the animalsstressed, and ensuring that appropriate knives and precisecutting methods are used.

The meat industry and other related animal industriesneed to continuously strive to improve their methods andsystems by using the available know-how and technology.These OIE guidelines should be helpful in achievingdesirable animal welfare goals within the commercialslaughter processes. These guidelines are regarded asvoluntary, and not meant to be mandatory standards.However, it is expected that OIE Member Countries willincorporate these guidelines into their standards, enactrelevant regulations, and implement the guidelines.Relevant authorities in Member Countries are alsoexpected to communicate and consult effectively withstakeholders in their countries, paying particular attention,where applicable, to religious, cultural and ethnicrequirements. The guidelines will enable MemberCountries to review and consider updating their respectivenational animal slaughter regulations. The final animalwelfare outcome depends upon the commitment of allstakeholders involved, including producers, marketers,technicians and animal handlers, guided, advised andsupervised by regulators, veterinarians and other relatedexpert professionals.

AcknowledgementsThe authors’ co-members in the Ad hoc Group, TempleGrandin, Neville Gregory, David Mellor and Mohan Raj,have actively participated in the preparation of this paperand their contribution is warmly acknowledged.

The authors, on behalf of the members of the Ad hoc Groupwish to express their gratitude to the staff of the OIE, andespecially to the International Trade Department, headedby Dr David Wilson, for the excellent support and valuableadvice which were provided during all stages of the group’sactivity – before, during and between their meetings.

Rev. sci. tech. Off. int. Epiz., 24 (2) 707

Abattage des animaux destinés à la consommation humaineA. Shimshony & M.M. Chaudry

RésuméLe présent article retrace brièvement la création du Groupe ad hoc de l’OIE(Organisation mondiale de la santé animale) sur l’abattage des animaux dans desconditions décentes, donne un aperçu de ses premières discussions et fournitdes précisions sur ses recommandations. Ces dernières ont été approuvées lorsde la 73e Session générale du Comité international de l’OIE et ont été intégréesdans la dernière (2005) édition du Code sanitaire pour les animaux terrestres. Lesrecommandations incorporent certains changements apportés aux définitionsactuelles de différents termes et les lignes directrices relatives à l’abattage àl’échelle industrielle des animaux destinés à la consommation humaine, en vuede réduire le plus possible la douleur et la souffrance susceptibles d’être évitéesà chaque étape du processus avant et pendant l’abattage. Les principalesquestions traitées par le Groupe ad hoc étaient les suivantes : principesgénéraux applicables à l’abattage, en rapport avec le personnel, lecomportement des animaux et l’élimination des sources de distractions peuvantamener les animaux à s’arrêter ou à revenir sur leurs pas ; déplacement etmanipulation des animaux après leur arrivée à l’abattoir ; conception etconstruction des locaux de stabulation ; traitement des animaux dans les locauxde stabulation ; enfin, questions de bien-être animal associées au caractèreacceptable des méthodes de manipulation, d’étourdissement et d’abattageappliquées pour les différentes espèces. Le Groupe a reconnu l’importance desexigences rituelles ainsi que les facteurs culturels et ethniques associés àl’abattage et des propositions appropriées ont été incluses dans leur rapportfinal. Des questions importantes mais moins fréquentes, telles que le sortréservé aux fœtus pendant l’abattage d’animaux en gestation ont également étéintégrées dans ces travaux. Enfin, le rapport final du Groupe ad hoc a égalementfait état des méthodes, procédures et pratiques qui sont inacceptable pour desraisons liées au bien-être animal.

Mots-clésAbattage – Abattage dans des conditions décentes – Abattoir – Bien-être – Contention– Étourdissement – Fœtus – Pré-abattage – Rituel – Traitement.

Rev. sci. tech. Off. int. Epiz., 24 (2)708

Sacrificio de animales para el consumo humanoA. Shimshony & M.M. Chaudry

ResumenTras describir sucintamente la formación del Grupo ad hoc de la OIE(Organización Mundial de Sanidad Animal) sobre el “Sacrificio de los animalesen condiciones decentes”, los autores resumen las primeras discusiones quemantuvo ese grupo y exponen con cierto detalle sus recomendaciones, que elComité Internacional de la OIE aprobó en su 73ª Sesión General y han sidoincluidas en la última (2005) edición del Código Sanitario para los AnimalesTerrestres. Entre las recomendaciones figuran la de modificar la definiciónvigente de una serie de términos, así como directrices relativas al sacrificiocomercial de animales para el consumo humano, pensadas para reducir almínimo todo dolor y sufrimiento evitables durante el proceso de sacrificio o ensus etapas previas. Los principales temas tratados por el Grupo ad hoc fueron:principios generales del sacrificio, relativos al personal, el comportamiento delos animales y la eliminación de elementos que puedan distraer al animal y hacerque se detenga o revuelva; desplazamiento y manipulación de los animales trassu llegada al matadero; diseño y construcción de locales de estabulación;cuidado de los animales en esos locales; y cuestiones de bienestar animalrelacionadas con métodos aceptables de manipulación, sujeción, aturdimiento ysacrificio que puedan aplicarse a varias especies útiles. El Grupo reconoció laimportancia de los imperativos religiosos y de los factores culturales y étnicosligados al sacrificio, por lo que en su informe final incluyó las oportunaspropuestas al respecto. En ese informe se examinan también otras cuestionesde relevancia, aunque se planteen más rara vez, como la manipulación de losfetos al sacrificar hembras grávidas. Por último, en el informe final también seindican los métodos, procedimientos y usos que resultan inaceptables por susconsecuencias para el bienestar de los animales.

Palabras claveAturdimiento – Bienestar – Feto – Matadero – Proceso previo al sacrificio – Religioso –Sacrificio – Sacrificio en condiciones decentes – Sujeción – Tratamiento.

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