Carbon Dioxide Stunning of Pigs

Temple Grandin explains humane slaughter methods to insure good animal welfare at the pork processing plant.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Temple
• Grandin
• humane
• slaughter
• animal
• welfare
• pork
• pig
• stunning
• processing
• carbon
• dioxide

[TempleGrandin]

Captive bolt will render cattle or pigs instantly insensible and unconscious. The bolt is propelled by either a small powder charge or compressed air. It has the same effect as shooting the animal in the head with a rifle. Captive bolt guns are very effective but they have to be carefully cleaned and maintained every day. They require the same care as a fine hunting rifle. Pithing is not required. Temple Grandin

[danae928]

I came across your story while studying for an exam for my degree in speech-language pathology. I'm only just starting, so was still surprised and impressed to see just how high functioning someone with autism can be. How you have used your different skill set in such an admirable way and reduced so much unnecessary torture of animals is amazing. Thanks.

[TempleGrandin]

@danae928 Autism is a very broad spectrum, ranging from a person who will remain non-verbal to a brilliant scientist who is socially awkward. You need to work on developing the child's strengths. My ability in art was always encouraged. My book Thinking in Pictures may be helpful.

Temple Grandin

[myprophet1]

I just found your vids, and boy am I glad. I have followed your work for some time, down to earth and practical, realistic, and humane. I know your story and I am very glad God saw fit to share you with the rest of us. And I know many animals, in their own way, are glad also. Please continue all ur good work, we need you!

[TempleGrandin]

@myprophet1 Thanks for the comment. I agree with you. It is important to find practical, realistic ways to solve problems.

Temple Grandin

[aprillonna]

Actually, if those who think Temple Grandin and others like her concerned with animal welfare can't make a difference would do a little research, they would find that Ms. Grandin alone has made a huge difference in how many slaughterhouses treat animals. She is not trying to stop corporate meat production but rather to improve both its efficiency and the treatment of animals in the process. It's a win-win, as corporations who have adopted her methods can tell you. Do some research.

[TempleGrandin]

@aprillonna Thank you for your thoughtful comment. Working to bring about improvements requires lots of sustained hard work over a long period of time. There is a need for more people who are interested in animal issues to study the issues deeply and go out in the field and find out what is really going on.

Temple Grandin

[whitireia]

Everyone at some point in their lives should probably slaughter their own stock.

[Spudst3r]

@TheAngeltoDemon I was thinking of the exact same thing.

[Spudst3r]

Doesn't CO2 produce the feeling of suffocation? If I'm not mistaken the feeling of suffocation is produced by a build up of CO2 in the lungs, not an absence of O2.

So if this system was to remain humane, wouldn't you need to use a non-CO2 inert gas like Nitrogen?

[Blitzkriegexe1]

How did I get here?

[eponess]

@TempleGrandin Thank you for uploading these videos... I teach Large Animal courses to Veterinary Technician students and we always end up talking about welfare issues in our food animals. Seeing your videos helps to let them know that we can all make a difference in these animal's lives including humane deaths. We still have a long way to go (as far as the veterinary care tha large animals receive) but the difference you have helped make is inspiring to the students. Thank you

[triple8construction]

I worked in a kosher beef plant in the early 1990's. I worked in the kill floor. I ran the floor chute, it lays the animal on its side so a shackle can be attached to the hoof. I often had to use a prod to get them in the chute. It was a utility beef plant. i.e. old dairy cattle ect. Some of the cattle had tears coming out of there eyes, they knew what was going to happen to them.. If Temple here can make it less stressful for animals , KUDOS. something needs to be done.

[TheAngeltoDemon]

@duckbringer111

watch?v=vlRFul216LM&feature=re­lated

the whole documentary is interesting, but the pig thing i would have thought it common knowledge in the industry.

[DinosaurDammit]

@TempleGrandin How do you feel about captive bolt and pithing as a form of stunning.

[duckbringer111]

@TheAngeltoDemon Can you give me a link to the documentary?

[TheAngeltoDemon]

How about Nitrogen? Seems people on here are pretty knowledgable about the subject. I remember seeing a BBC special on slaughter and it was concluded nitrogen was the most painless. Really great video where a feeding area was saturated with Carbon Dioxide and another with nitrogen. The pig upon entering its head into the chamber with Carbon Dioxide was repelled by the gas, whereas the nitrogen, the pig simply just passed out. It was so painless, the pig was undeterred in going for the NO2.