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| Humane Interactive
Knowledge Exchange (HIKE) Scenario 01-08 Double Stunning |
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The Humane Methods of Livestock Slaughter Act of 1978 [7 USC 1901 – 1906] states that the handling and slaughtering of livestock are to be carried out only by humane methods. The Federal Meat Inspection Act [21 USC 601 et seq.] authorizes Federal Meat Inspectors to inspect, verify compliance, and enforce humane methods of handling and slaughtering of livestock so as to prevent needless suffering of animals. FSIS personnel verify that an establishment is meeting these requirements by performing procedure 04C02 daily and recording the results on the procedure schedule for each inspection shift. They also should record the time spent verifying human handling and slaughter activities in the Humane-handling Activities Tracking System (HATS).
The following references should be used when studying this HIKE:
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You are the IIC at a large cull cow slaughter and processing establishment.
The establishment approaches you and inquires about the possibility
of routinely double stunning (i.e., using two shots or blows to
stun) cattle as part of its slaughter process. The establishment
states that it wants to ensure that animals will not regain consciousness
after the initial stun, and that there is a minimum of excitement
and discomfort. The plant refers to the second stun as a “security
knock.”
The establishment uses an air-driven (pneumatic) penetrating captive
bolt stunner. You have been assigned to this establishment for 3
years and during that time have not observed any noncompliance in
its stunning operation. In fact, during the last year the establishment
has incorporated a systematic approach to the humane handling and
slaughter of cattle.
The establishment’s systematic approach is documented in a plan
that it has developed. One aspect of the plan is for establishment
management to randomly select 4 times during each day to observe
5 animals being stunned and record the stunning results.
(The establishment could choose other options for the frequency
and number of animals selected for verification procedures.) In
addition, the establishment has experienced and well-trained captive-bolt
stunner operators and it documents its ongoing training practices.
You decide to consider this request and contact the District Veterinary
Medical Specialist (DVMS) to discuss the double stunning procedure
in the context of the establishment’s plan. The DVMS advises you
that the Humane Methods of Livestock Slaughter Act (7 USC 1901-1906)
and the Agency’s humane handling regulations (9 CFR 313.15) require
that livestock be rendered unconscious by a single stunning blow,
but that there is no regulation that prohibits an establishment
from delivering a second stunning blow to an animal that was effectively
rendered unconscious due the first stunning blow.
Therefore,
a double knock procedure can meet regulatory requirements so long
as the establishment effectively implements its program. Thus,
the establishment needs to ensure that its personnel will verify
that the double stunning of cattle is humane.
The establishment decides to implement the following plan:
- All operators of stunning equipment will be trained on how
to properly use the equipment to effectively stun the animals
and will need to demonstrate competency in placing and firing
the captive-bolt stunner.
- The operators will need to demonstrate that they are able
to recognize when an animal has not been adequately stunned,
and that they must immediately respond by re-stunning with a
single additional blow to render the animal unconscious.
- The establishment will maintain its existing verification
checks to ensure immediate unconsciousness from the first stun.
- The establishment’s existing maintenance program for the
captive-bolt stunners will remain in effect, but be routinely
assessed for continued effectiveness.
You also inform the establishment that you will continue to verify
that the establishment is meeting the intent of the Acts and regulatory
requirements. Your verification of 9 CFR 313.15(a)(1) needs to consider
whether the establishment employing a double knock (stun) procedure
has a basis for knowing that the first knock rendered the animal
immediately unconscious. The establishment’s means of ensuring that
the knock is effective may include, but are not limited to, verification
of the effectiveness of its training of its employees who perform
the knock, equipment maintenance schedules and equipment modifications,
and establishment audits. The establishment could also render the
animals unconscious with the initial stun in order for FSIS inspection
to verify, on a random basis, that the establishment is consistently
rendering animals unconscious with a single stunning blow.
The use of these types of procedures would be considered by FSIS
to be consistent with a systematic approach to humane handling and
slaughter. Because the establishment is using a systematic approach,
you verify execution of the establishment’s procedures by direct
observation of the establishment’s routine stunning methods and
its effectiveness.
If your observation raises a significant question about the effectiveness
of the first knock, however, you may request that the establishment
deliver one stunning blow to the animal in order to evaluate the
results of the stun, but this request should rarely, if ever, be
necessary.
Note:
- This HIKE scenario only addresses the routine stunning of
cattle using a double stun technique. Other species (e.g., swine)
may effectively be stunned using this technique as well. Also,
establishments may choose to routinely double-stun certain slaughter
classes (e.g., cows and bulls) and not others (e.g., fat cattle).
If an establishment does use this methodology, FSIS will expect
the establishment’s training and documentation to describe which
animals are routinely double-stunned and which are not.
- This HIKE scenario does not address stunning failure in
establishments that routinely use a single-stun method. Another
HIKE will address stunning failure in establishments that have
ineffective initial stuns and must re-stun to render the animal
unconscious.
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Access the HIKE Scenario home page and review previously posted
HIKE’s from:
http://www.fsis.usda.gov/FSIS_Employees/HIKE/index.asp
HIKE is a service of the FSIS Policy Development Division and DVMS
to foster awareness and regulatory compliance for welfare of livestock.
It is important that everyone understands that HIKE and the information
herein is intended for the use of all field employees and to be
shared with plant management.
If questions pertaining to any of the scenarios, or answers provided
on HIKE are not resolved through discussions within the work-group
or with the supervisor, they should be submitted to
Hike@fsis.usda.gov.
Last Modified:
April 28, 2008
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