Animal protection slaughter legislation. Frequent hitting with the goad is wrong. Use of electric goads on pigs at the entrance of the stunning unit.

摘要

German legislation states that electric goads should only be used on the hind limb muscles of pigs. In a study over 6 days of the use of electric and mechanical goads by 5 people at an abattoir with a daily throughput of 7000 pigs, it was found that hind leg muscles accounted for quite a low proportion of use of electric goads (maximum of 33.2%), and the same was true for mechanical goads (plastic sticks or rubber rods), with a maximum of 9.6%. The main part of the pig hit by both types of goad was the back. The use of the goads varied greatly between people. Recommendations are given for ensuring that the legislation requirements are followed.