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Reactions of Cattle to Head-Restraint at Stunning: A Practical Dilemma

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 January 2023

R Ewbank ,
M J Parker  and
C W Mason
R Ewbank
Affiliation:
Humane Slaughter Association 34 Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Potters Bar, Herts EN6 3PA
M J Parker
Affiliation:
Humane Slaughter Association 34 Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Potters Bar, Herts EN6 3PA
C W Mason
Affiliation:
Humane Slaughter Association 34 Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Potters Bar, Herts EN6 3PA
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Abstract

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The behavioural reactions and blood Cortisol levels of cattle stunned using a penetrating captive-bolt pistol whilst standing free in a stunning box were compared with those obtained from cattle similarly stunned but with their heads held in a hydraulically operated chin-lift type of head restrainer. Few (8 out of 55) animals voluntarily put their heads into the restrainer, most had to be ‘persuaded’ to use the head-restrainer; some (5 out of 24) could not be. The mean time between entry into the stunning pen and the stun for 23 free standing animals was 5.6s and for 19 animals which could be persuaded to use the head restrainer was 34.2s. The Cortisol levels in the blood taken at the stick, from 30 animals stunned while standing free was 67.6 nmoVlitre while that from 30 stunned while head-restrained was 143.1 nmolHitre. The behaviour and Cortisol results suggest that enforced usage of this type of head restrainer could be a cause of distress to the cattle involved.

Keywords

animal welfarecattlehead-restraintslaughterstunning
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 1 , Issue 1 , February 1992 , pp. 55 - 63
Copyright
© 1992 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

References

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