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1904] 222
always be stunned previous to being stuck, and the Committee
have satisfied themselves by practical experiment and observations
that this can be done expeditiously and without difficulty.
A small club with a heavy head* should be used and the sheep
should be struck on the top of the head between the ears.
This point is important, as it is almost impossible to stun a sheep by
striking it on the forehead.
The sheep are previously placed on the crutch, and directly they are
stunned they are stuck with a knife and bled in the ordinary
way. It was ascertained that complete loss of sensibility from
the stunning alone lasted for at least twenty seconds, which
allows more than ample time for the completion of the killing
operation. It was also clearly demonstrated that the stunning
caused no injury to the sheep's head, or to the " scrag of mutton "
which could in any way depreciate their market value.
Lambs.
Lambs should also be stunned previous to bleeding, but a lighter club
should be used.
Pigs.
The Committee ascertained that it is the usual practice in large establishments
in England to stun pigs by a blow on the forehead,
previous to sticking them, and there is no difficulty in carrying
this out, as the pig's head is soft as compared with that of the
sheep. The Committee are of opinion that the preliminary stunning
should be enforced in all cases, the evidence tending to show
that this operation is often limited to pigs which are so large or
strong as to give trouble to the sticker, or to cases where, owing
to the location of the slaughter-house, the squeals of the stuck
pigs cause annoyance to the neighbourhood. The Committee
feel that considerations of humanity are at least as important as
those above mentioned.
* The Copenhagen instrument, with which the Committee conducted successful experiments,
has a wooden handle and a round iron head. The Swiss instrument is the one recommended for
general use, as it requires less skill on the part of the operator and consequently is more certain
in its effects.