title: A comparison of blood loss during the Halal slaughter of lambs following Traditional Religious Slaughter without stunning, Electric Head-Only Stunning and Post-Cut Electric Head-Only Stunning.
abstract: Blood lost at exsanguination during the Halal slaughter of lambs was compared between the slaughter methods of Traditional Religious Slaughter without stunning (TRS), Electric Head-Only Stunning (EHOS) and Post-Cut Electric Head-Only Stunning (PCEHOS). Two protocols were examined, Experimental (80 lambs) and Commercial (360 lambs), assessing varying periods of animal orientation during the 4 min bleeding process (upright orientation before vertical hanging). Live-weight, blood weight (Experimental only), carcass weights and by-product weights were recorded. The Experimental protocol highlighted an increase in blood loss at 60s in EHOS and PCEHOS compared to TRS (P<0.001) but by 90 s there was no significant difference. A post-slaughter change in animal orientation from an upright to a vertical hanging position aided the amount of blood loss. The bleeding of lambs is largely completed by 2 min. There were no significant differences (P>0.05) in final blood loss between treatments. This research was undertaken to inform discussion on the merits of different slaughter methods compatible with Halal requirements.
authors.affiliation: Euro Quality Lambs Ltd, Euro House, Dale Street, Craven Arms, Shropshire SY7 9PA, UK. Electronic address: rizvan@euroqualitylambs.co.uk.
authors.forename: Rizvan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Khalid
authors.affiliation: University of Bristol, School of Veterinary Sciences, Langford, Bristol BS40 5DU, UK.
authors.forename: Toby G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Knowles
authors.affiliation: University of Bristol, School of Veterinary Sciences, Langford, Bristol BS40 5DU, UK.
authors.forename: Steve B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Wotton
mesh_terms: D000003:Abattoirs; D000827:Animal Welfare; D000818:Animals; D001769:Blood; D001835:Body Weight; D003221:Confusion; D004560:Electricity; D005511:Food Handling; D006801:Humans; D007514:Islam; D008460:Meat; D011187:Posture; D012756:Sheep
keywords: Blood; Halal; Post-cut stunning; Sheep; Slaughter with stunning; Slaughter without stunning