Ever see how they slaughter cattle for burgers?

Question

A massive nail gun to the head. I've even heard the kill minks with anal electrocution so they don't ruin the fur. Is this stuff true?

Anal/Genital electrocution is done in NY

http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/10-20-2004/0002289395&EDATE=

Answer 1

It is actually a hydraulic bolt which never actually leaves the gun.

It is true though.

If plants could scream would you kill them?

Answer 2

yes, we watched a video on slaughterhouses in my human/animal relationships class.

they come out from the little chute and there's a guy standing there with a bolt gun, the second the cow comes out from under the cover (there is a flap so the cows can't see, helps lessen stress) massive hit on the head (skull/brain) by the bolt gun (not a nail gun) [should] kill them instantly.

(it's a 'humane' way when it works properly...unfortunately about 3 percent are not dead on the first hit...though that is better than it was 10 years ago)

I know animal rights will disagree with my 'humane' statement...but for now people do eat beef! So how else do you want them slaughtered. (P.S. heart stopping med's could be traumatizing to the animal!)

Check out this site about Temple Grandin...she's an amazing person, autistic, has helped revolutionize the slaughterhouse.
http://www.grandin.com/

Answer 3

The cows are not killed with a nail gun. They are killed with a similar device that delivers a quick sharp blow to the head right between the eyes. This instantly scrambles their brains and renders them dead. All in all, a pretty quick and humane way of execution. And yes, I have seen the process.

As for minks, I haven't heard of the anal electrocution thing. It is my understanding that the recommend method for killing animals that one wants to keep intact is through CO2 asphyxiation. They simply go to sleep and don't wake up. Neat and painless.

Answer 4

I have read the books Slaughterhouse and Mad Cowboy all about the meat industry. Ewwwww ... so disgusting I went off most meats for about 7 yrs. now. I refuse to eat meat from an animal that was tortured, hung and cut up while still alive.

I really try to buy all organics, but I still eat chicken (organic) and seafood. Most organic farms will not tolerate abusive slaughtering methods. This is a touchy subject for many people, but you have to draw your own conclusions and make your own choices. Just do some investigation and those books I highly recommend.

Answer 5

I doubt it. Slaughtering is the act of killing the animal quick, not torture. I have spent summers on a farm where hogs were slaughtered for food. They were shot in the head. I am sure that a slaughter plant has a similar method.
Any and all methods to me though is a sickening thing to see or think about. I am an animal lover and the act hurts me even though I know it's necessary for a meat eating society.

Answer 6

Everybody else is right. Acutally it depends on which one you listen too. I have never seen them slaughter a cow but I saw a picture of how they slaughter horses. They hang the poor horse from there feet and then just start cutting into him.

Oh and just so everyone knows... Bush said that if there are horses under 3 years that are wild leave them alive and kill the ones who aren't under 3 years. How cruel. He said this because out here in Arizona, there was a wild herd of horses spotted on a construction site and they caught the herd and Bush allowed them to slaughter the horses.=(

Answer 7

I have been to packing plants for all three major packers.
I have seen animals slaughtered both there and in a meat laboratory.
There are laws in place set up by the United States Department of Agriculture that outline the procedures for slaughter. The USDA has inspectors in EVERY facility that harvests animals and sells the meat.
"No method of slaughtering or handling in connection with slaughtering shall be deemed to comply with the public policy of the United States unless it is humane. Either of the following two methods of slaughtering and handling are hereby found to be humane:

(a) in the case of cattle, calves, horses, mules, sheep, swine, and other livestock, all animals are rendered insensible to pain by a single blow or gunshot or an electrical, chemical or other means that is rapid and effective, before being shackled, hoisted, thrown, cast, or cut; or

(b) by slaughtering in accordance with the ritual requirements of the Jewish faith or any other religious faith that prescribes a method of slaughter whereby the animal suffers loss of consciousness by anemia of the brain caused by the simultaneous and instantaneous severance of the carotid arteries with a sharp instrument and handling in connection with such slaughtering."
I have never found the conditions that I saw in any of the packing plants to be inhumane or questionable.

Answer 8

Yes Ive seen it
No it didnt stop me eating meat
would I eat meat if I had to kill it myself?
Yes,and have done


Its not a "nail gun"( going for the emotive there),Its called a captive bolt,and is a high velocity steel bolt that stuns the animal prior to cutting the artery.Thus it is unconsious while it bleeds out

Answer 9

The mink thing yes, the cow thing no. Cows are simply injected with heart stopping meds. Either way, I don't care. Best wishes

Answer 10

Go to the video store and rent faces of death 1. It shows you what is done to cows and chickens, and some people. Really gross, gory, bloody footage