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Comparison of religious slaughter of sheep with methods that include pre-slaughter stunning, and the lack of differences in exsanguination, packed cell volume and meat quality parameters

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 January 2023

MH Anil ,
T Yesildere ,
H Aksu ,
E Matur ,
JL McKinstry ,
O Erdogan ,
S Hughes  and
C Mason
MH Anil*
Affiliation:
University of Bristol, Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, Langford, Bristol BS18 7DY, UK
T Yesildere
Affiliation:
Chamber of Veterinary Surgeons of Istanbul (IVHO), Sofyali Sok, Hamson Apt. 26/3, Asmali Mescit, Tunel, Beyoglo, Istanbul, Turkey
H Aksu
Affiliation:
Chamber of Veterinary Surgeons of Istanbul (IVHO), Sofyali Sok, Hamson Apt. 26/3, Asmali Mescit, Tunel, Beyoglo, Istanbul, Turkey
E Matur
Affiliation:
Chamber of Veterinary Surgeons of Istanbul (IVHO), Sofyali Sok, Hamson Apt. 26/3, Asmali Mescit, Tunel, Beyoglo, Istanbul, Turkey
JL McKinstry
Affiliation:
University of Bristol, Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, Langford, Bristol BS18 7DY, UK
O Erdogan
Affiliation:
Chamber of Veterinary Surgeons of Istanbul (IVHO), Sofyali Sok, Hamson Apt. 26/3, Asmali Mescit, Tunel, Beyoglo, Istanbul, Turkey
S Hughes
Affiliation:
University of Bristol, Department of Clinical Veterinary Science, Langford, Bristol BS18 7DY, UK
C Mason
Affiliation:
Humane Slaughter Association, The Old School, Brewhouse Hill, Wheathampstead, Hertfordshire AL4 8AN, UK
*
* Contact for correspondence and requests for reprints
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Abstract

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UK legislation requiring pre-slaughter stunning has certain exemptions for religious slaughter. Supporters of both Muslim (Halal) and Jewish (Shechita) slaughter methods claim that the efficiency of the bleed out is adversely affected by stunning. In this study, electrical stunning followed by neck cutting, and captive bolt stunning followed by neck cutting, were compared with the Muslim slaughter method (neck cutting without stunning) in sheep. Total blood loss and percentage blood loss, expressed as a percentage of live weight, were calculated and compared between groups. In addition, the time taken to reach 25%, 50%, 75% and 90% of total blood loss was calculated and compared. There was no apparent difference in the packed cell volume levels between groups. Slaughter method did, however, affect meat pH and colour. The results show that the bleed out after neck cutting is not adversely affected by electrical or captive bolt stunning; nor is an improved bleed out achieved by neck cutting without stunning.

Keywords

animal welfareblood lossHalalreligious slaughterShechitastunning
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 13 , Issue 4 , November 2004 , pp. 387 - 392
Copyright
© 2004 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

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