The Sunday Mail
IN this third and last part, we look at various modern mechanised methods used by commercial meat producing companies.
While they have refined many techniques in to meet high demands from consumers, it is rather sad to note that many aspects of the “humane” concept are being compromised or even lost altogether. In fact in some cases it is alarming to note that while outward hygiene and bio-security have been tremendously enhanced, the quality of the end product is affected due to side-lining simple basic requirements set by The Almighty.
1. The captive bolt pistol
This method is used commonly for cattle, calves and goats. It is the shooting, by a gun or pistol, in the forehead (mechanical method) using a blank cartridge or compressed air. It is of two types – the penetrative and the non-penetrative (percussion stunning). All this is effected before the real slaughtering cut is made.
There are various problems and harm that arise from using this method as has been reported in different scientific reports such as improper stunning, paralysis of the animal while still conscious, depressed skull fracture and considerable brain damage, brain contamination, blood splash, brain haemorrhage, bruising and injuries from the heavy fall, and tests on sheep and calves indicate penetrating captive bolt stunning has actually killed the animal, even before slaughter.
In some plants, “pithing” is used in addition to the shot; whereby a rod of steel is then introduced in the skull hole to smash, cut and destroy the brain, before the actual slaughter (with the thought that this will render the animal senseless thus not having any feeling and pain!).
This is most inhumane to say the least. It is only recently that a number of countries have prohibited pithing.
A new method in which a steel needle is used to penetrate the skull and brain and air is injected to cause intra-cranial pressure has been developed. This causes no less harm than the captive bolt pistol.
2. Carbon Dioxide
This is done by moving the animal through a room which contains a mixture of CO2 and air (about 65 to 70 percent CO2 by volume). It is literally a form of chemical strangulation as we all know that CO2 is a harmful gas to be inside the body.
The problems that arise from using this method include:
(a) Considerable and unacceptable stress to the animal – at times causing violent excitation, general agitation and even convulsions
(b) It is doubtful if the animal even remains conscious
(c) Suffocation and strangulation resulting in death to the animal before the cut
(d) Toxic effect of the gas on the blood and physiology
(e) It is definitely a cruel way for the animal and there is no certainty that if has not already died, it cannot feel the pain!
Again, it is only recently that this method has been banned in several countries.
3. Electrical Stunning
This could be to head and brain only or to head and back or to the legs, and there are three varieties:
(i) Low Voltage Electrical Stunning by a pair of scissor-like tongs with circular or rectangular electrodes which are usually immersed in a saline solution then applied to the side of the head. Voltage is not less than 75 volts (50Hz mains frequency) for not less than seven seconds.
(ii) High Voltage Electric Stunning by using an electric shock of 300-400 volts, commonly used for sheep.
(iii) Electrified Water Bath for Poultry Stunning whereby the birds are suspended upside down and the head comes into contact with water and the passage of an electric shock through the brain.
According to scientific reports, the problems arising from, and the harm caused by, these electrical stunning methods are numerous. Some of the major ones are that it is cruel (no anaesthesia), and that paralysis occurs while the animal is conscious.
It is unreliable because when there are missed shots, re-stunning must be effected, and higher voltage leads to severe bone fractures.
Lower voltage produces electric convulsions which may result in extravasations within various body organs; and in most cases a lower voltage needs longer application.
This method causes extravasations in the meat – the blood in the meat makes it more susceptible to putrefaction and has detrimental effect on taste
Cardiac disfunction and cardiac arrest have been known to occur in a good number of “electrically stunned” animals
From a physiological standpoint, the stunned animal is more highly stressed – it is extremely difficult to determine the sensitivity of an animal to pain during the first few seconds of stunning while the electric current is applied
In the case of poultry, being stunned through an electrified water bath, the following problems also occur:
(a) the birds are in a very uncomfortable position in which they are stunned
(b) paralysis by failure of correct stunning
(c) at times drowning and suffocation occurs resulting in death
(d) while in other instances, birds come through while still conscious and alive
(e) it is well known in the poultry industry that the physiological aspects of the stunning of poultry are not well understood and criteria for establishing insensitivity to pain, may well be unreliable
For further information on Islam or a free copy of the Holy Qur’aan, please contact:
Majlisul Ulama Zimbabwe, Council of Islamic Scholars
Publications Department
PO Box W93, Waterfalls, Harare
Tel: 04-614078 / 614004, Fax: 04-614003
e-mail: [email protected].
