STUNNING PIGS

Temple GrandinDepartment of Animal SciencesColorado State University

Erika L. VoogdVoogd Consulting, Inc.

Trouble Shooting Stunning
        - Excessive electric prod use due to distractions
        - Stunner settings
        - Employee training
        - Wand ergonomics
        - Line speed

Both sides of restrainer must run at the same speed 

Test conveyor line speed by marking parallel slats and rotating one full cycle

If the slats do not line up after one rotation, it indicates uneven speed.  Pigs can be pinched or twisted.

When the conveyor side speeds are different

Pigs can be pinched or twisted.

Electrodes must be positioned so that current goes through the brain

Head only reversible stun correct position

Head to back cardiac arrest stunner

Head to body cardiac arrest stunner

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It is the land races and wild relatives that we should be targeting in this great venture to preserve genetic diversity.  I need to know that we are on the same page about this.  In your time here,  please TELL ME what it you see is valuable about this collection and what you are afraid of losing if we didn’t have it. 

If this is what you want, then it’s a tough job.  Because as you go from highly selected and homogenous germplasm to the heterogeneity you’d expect from wild populations, you have increased complexity in how much diversity you can capture, and how you quantify it,  collect it, maintain it and regenerate it.    As important,  when you start seeking germplasm from wild progenitors, you have an increased complexity in how it performs in a genebank.  By definition – it is all that genetic heterogeneity that you were after in the first place.   The domesticated stuff is a lot easier to grow – that is why it was domesticated!  The result is germplasm that we can’t store or that ages quickly or we can’t grow & regenerate. 

EEG brainwaves used to determine that a 

proper stun induces a grand mal epileptic seizure

Minimum stunner amperage settings

1.25 	amps  for pigs (85-90 kg)

1.00 	amps for sheep and cattle

Minimum stunner amperage settings

2.00 	amps  for large pigs

		(150-200 kg, 300 - 400 lbs)

2.00 	amps for sows

Indicator Lights Show Stunner Function

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Genepool concept – Highly selected germplasm, landraces or ecotypes, wild relatives.  The named cultivars is what we need for modern agriculture: they are the end result when we use genetic diversity.  But, they are not the source of genetic diversity – land races and wild relatives are the raw materials with which we work.   They provide the valuable genes for resistance, the untapped hidden potential for yield and new growth habits, the heterogeneity needed to prevent inbreeding depression, the “ecological services” to ensure landscapes stay healthy, and the beauty that is sought after by the ornamental horticulture customers we serve. 

Increasing stun wand electrode surface area can increase the stun efficacy

Blood Splash Caused By 

Poor Electric Stunning

Center track restrainer may have less blood splash

than a V conveyor because there is less

pressure on the body

*

It is the land races and wild relatives that we should be targeting in this great venture to preserve genetic diversity.  I need to know that we are on the same page about this.  In your time here,  please TELL ME what it you see is valuable about this collection and what you are afraid of losing if we didn’t have it. 

If this is what you want, then it’s a tough job.  Because as you go from highly selected and homogenous germplasm to the heterogeneity you’d expect from wild populations, you have increased complexity in how much diversity you can capture, and how you quantify it,  collect it, maintain it and regenerate it.    As important,  when you start seeking germplasm from wild progenitors, you have an increased complexity in how it performs in a genebank.  By definition – it is all that genetic heterogeneity that you were after in the first place.   The domesticated stuff is a lot easier to grow – that is why it was domesticated!  The result is germplasm that we can’t store or that ages quickly or we can’t grow & regenerate. 

It is important to apply water to the body prior to stunning to aid electrical conductivity.

Water application prior to the restrainer will reduce “grounding” in the restrainer

*

It is the land races and wild relatives that we should be targeting in this great venture to preserve genetic diversity.  I need to know that we are on the same page about this.  In your time here,  please TELL ME what it you see is valuable about this collection and what you are afraid of losing if we didn’t have it. 

If this is what you want, then it’s a tough job.  Because as you go from highly selected and homogenous germplasm to the heterogeneity you’d expect from wild populations, you have increased complexity in how much diversity you can capture, and how you quantify it,  collect it, maintain it and regenerate it.    As important,  when you start seeking germplasm from wild progenitors, you have an increased complexity in how it performs in a genebank.  By definition – it is all that genetic heterogeneity that you were after in the first place.   The domesticated stuff is a lot easier to grow – that is why it was domesticated!  The result is germplasm that we can’t store or that ages quickly or we can’t grow & regenerate. 

Correct Head only stunner placement

Incorrect Head only stunner placement

Correct Head only stunner placement (European Tong)

Correct Head only stunner placement (European Tong)

Incorrect Head only stunner placement (European Tong)

Correct Stunner Location:   Captive Bolt

Incorrect captive bolt stunner placement

Pig Brain

Grounding of stunner electricity to metal may cause a poor stun

Be sure to insulate the hold down metal

*

It is the land races and wild relatives that we should be targeting in this great venture to preserve genetic diversity.  I need to know that we are on the same page about this.  In your time here,  please TELL ME what it you see is valuable about this collection and what you are afraid of losing if we didn’t have it. 

If this is what you want, then it’s a tough job.  Because as you go from highly selected and homogenous germplasm to the heterogeneity you’d expect from wild populations, you have increased complexity in how much diversity you can capture, and how you quantify it,  collect it, maintain it and regenerate it.    As important,  when you start seeking germplasm from wild progenitors, you have an increased complexity in how it performs in a genebank.  By definition – it is all that genetic heterogeneity that you were after in the first place.   The domesticated stuff is a lot easier to grow – that is why it was domesticated!  The result is germplasm that we can’t store or that ages quickly or we can’t grow & regenerate. 

Electrode contacts should be cleaned at startup, breaks and end of day.

Use a wire brush or green pad.

*

It is the land races and wild relatives that we should be targeting in this great venture to preserve genetic diversity.  I need to know that we are on the same page about this.  In your time here,  please TELL ME what it you see is valuable about this collection and what you are afraid of losing if we didn’t have it. 

If this is what you want, then it’s a tough job.  Because as you go from highly selected and homogenous germplasm to the heterogeneity you’d expect from wild populations, you have increased complexity in how much diversity you can capture, and how you quantify it,  collect it, maintain it and regenerate it.    As important,  when you start seeking germplasm from wild progenitors, you have an increased complexity in how it performs in a genebank.  By definition – it is all that genetic heterogeneity that you were after in the first place.   The domesticated stuff is a lot easier to grow – that is why it was domesticated!  The result is germplasm that we can’t store or that ages quickly or we can’t grow & regenerate. 

Automatic Electric Stunners

Properly Stunned Insensible Pigs

Bleeding

Bad

Good

Bleeding

Good

Bad

Prone bleed may reduce blood splash because the stun to bleed interval is under 10 seconds

Genetics may affect pig's reaction to CO2

Low Stress Group Handling With CO2

Control of forward movements of crowd gate by a person 

prevents overcrowding

CO2 pigs limp and floppy

Slight limb movements and gasping may occur

2003 Stunning Audits

(27 plants) 

Ninety one percent of the pork plants 

passed both the 

Stunning and Insensibility Audits 

Numbers of Partially Sensible Pigs in 2003

1/4500 approx.

All pigs were restunned prior to scalding

2/4900 after four final audits were received 

On a single 100 animal audit by a customer 

100 % of the animals must be insensible to pass

For regulatory purposes when hundreds 

of animals are observed I recommend 

keeping a running average on the percentage

of animals that were insensible at hoisting 

that show signs of partial return to 

sensibility after hoisting

Completely eliminating these animals is impossible and

I recommend setting the limits on this Critical Control Point based

on data collected on thousands of animals

There is a Zero Tolerance for Hoisting an 

Animal that is Showing Obvious 

Signs of Sensibility

There is a Zero Tolerance for Skinning, Scalding, Dehairing or Removal of Any Body Part on an Animal that Shows any Sign of Partial Return to Sensibility

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