Stunning an animal correctly will provide better meat quality. Improper electric stunning will cause bloodspots in the meat and bone fractures. Good stunning practices are also required so that a plant will be in compliance with the Humane Slaughter Act and for animal welfare. When stunning is done correctly, the animal feels no pain and it becomes instantly unconscious. An animal that is stunned properly will produce a still carcass that is safe for plant workers to work on.

Determining Insensibility and Effectiveness of Stunning

Proper Cattle Restraint for Stunning

Captive Bolt Stunning

Electric Stunning of Pigs and Sheep

Electric Stunning of Cattle

Carbon Dioxide Stunning

Electro-Immobilization is NOT a Humane Method of Restraint

Best Practices for Animal Handling and Stunning

Headholder for holding head in conveyor restrainer (Front View)

Headholder for holding head in conveyor restrainer (Side View)

Grandin, T. (2001)Cattle vocalizations are associated with handling and equipment problems at beef slaughter plants.
Applied Animal Behaviour Science
Volume 71, 2001, Pg. 191-201

Grandin, T. (1996)

Factors That Impede Animal Movement at Slaughter Plants
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 209 No.4 : 757 - 759

Grandin, T. (1995)

Restraint of Livestock
Proceedings: Animal Behaviour Design of Livestock and Poultry Systems International Conference (pages 208-223)
Published by: Northeast Regional Agriculture Engineering Service
Cooperative Extension 152 Riley - Robb Hall Ithaca, New York, 14853 USA

Grandin, T. (1994)

Euthanasia and Slaughter of Livestock
Journal of American Veterinary Medical Association
volume 204 : 1354 - 1360

Grandin, T. (1989) (Updated 1999)

Behavioral Principles of Livestock Handling
Professional Animal Scientist December 1989 (pages 1-11)

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