Humane Slaughter of Pigs : The " Spectator's " Experiment
AREPRESENTATIVE of the Spectator, while travelling through Northern Europe last, summer, was much struck with the advantages of a new method of pig-killing, which is more expeditious and more humane than the old. The proprietors of the Spectator therefore determined to secure a practical demonstration of the method in England, in the hope that by its general adoption much needless suffering might be prevented. A Schermer Pig Trap was imported from Germany, and Messrs. Arthur Davy and Sons, Limited, of Sheffield, who have always been interested in humane methods of slaughtering pigs, kindly undertook to give it a thorough practical test. We are glad to say that the trap has proved to be most successful.
Messrs. Davy first tried the pig trap privately last week. The first six pigs to be slaughtered averaged 12 stone 10 lb., varying from 14 stone 3 lb. down to 11 stone 11 lb. The next batch were much heavier, ranging from 20 stone 9 lb. up to 29 stone, and averaging 23 stone 4 lb. The animals selected were thus a repre- sentative lot. Nevertheless they were easily dealt with at the rate of one a minute. Moreover, the firm were convinced that the process could be accelerated still further when the trap was permanently fixed and somewhat modified in design. They showed that they were in earnest by offering to buy the trap.
A second demonstration was given on Monday in the presence of a member of the Sheffield Telegraph staff, acting on behalf of the Spectator. Anybody who has seen the old method of slaughtering pigs knows that the spectacle of an animal hanging by its hind legs, kicking and squealing in terror, is not easily forgotten, except by men who are continually engaged in the gruesome work. But there need be no fear of witnessing a demonstration of the new pig trap. Indeed, apart from one or two inevitably unpleasant incidents in the process, a sensitive person might watch the operation of this trap without experiencing anything of the nauseating repugnance which he would undoubtedly feel if other methods were used. It was made obvious that the method is infinitely superior to other ways of slaughter which are still in use to-day.
It was not difficult to persuade pigs, which had been comfortably penned_ on the premises so that they had become accustomed to the environment and were without fear, to go down a narrow gangway into the trap. Before each animal had gone many feet, however, the bottom of the trap automatically fell out, a lever was pulled, and the pig became tightly wedged in position between the sheet metal sides of the trap, its feet through the bottom. The slaughterer then lost no time and had no difficulty in placing the Cash captive bolt pistol in position and shooting the pig. There was little or no squealing, and no struggling ; everything was done efficiently, rapidly, and humanely.
Then the carcase was ejected from the trap by the pulling of another lever, and assistants lost no time in pinioning the pig's hind legs, hauling it up on a pulley arrangement, gashing its throat and so bleeding it. The whole process seemed to occupy a remarkably short space of time, during the most part of which the pig was insensible.
The success of the demonstration was the more noted worthy because the firm had not then been able to make certain structural alterations to assist in the efficient working of the trap. On Monday the gangway down which the pigs go led to a room in which there is a certain amount of noise and glare of light. That has been altered, and the pigs will now have no fear at all in entering the trap. Moreover, the work has been greatly expedited.
It is interesting to note that the trap is considered to be efficient from a business point of view as well as from the humanitarian standpoint. Mr. A. C. Davy, the managing director, says that," compared with the roping system, a saving of time can be effected, and his operatives, who are usually opposed to any change, are very enthusiastic as to its efficiency. "Blood splash" does not occur even in 1 per cent, of the animals slaughtered, and there is no deterioration in the meat or in the hams and the bacon after curing. We may add that, according to Messrs. Davy's records, the captive bolt pistol has been used to kill 14,839 pigs since they adopted it two years ago, and it has never failed.
We present the results of this experiment in humane slaughtering to the public in the hope and belief that the new method will be rapidly and widely adopted in this country. The old coarse and cruel methods are really obsolete.
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