Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
but the front shoulder should be left uncovered with a
diffused light source to attract the deer forward. A drop-
floor restrainer is an alternative to the stunning crate.
Prior to stunning, deer should not be held in the
approach passages. One or two deer at a time must be
placed in the stunning crate, and only when the way is
clear for it to be stunned, and then bled immediately.
Stunning equipment must be properly maintained and
reserve equipment readily available. Deer are stunned by
frontal head shot with a captive bolt pistol. Pithing is not
necessary. The slaughter of a batch must be arranged
such that the slaughter of the last deer is not delayed.
After hoisting by a hindleg, deer are bled in the same way
as cattle. Both forelegs are held to minimise the risk to
the slaughter man. Carcases are usually skinned on a
modified static sheep crutch. Hide pullers have been
tried and a down puller for deer is commercially availa-
ble. As with game venison production, because of their
propensity for shedding hair, contamination with hair is
a problem. A skilled skinning operative makes a huge
difference to how well the carcase is presented at final
inspection, and flood-washing is not required to remove
the hairs. A low-pressure wash removes bone dust
around the sternum and neck flap.
Meat inspection has followed existing protocols. The
possible presence of TB has to be kept in mind. Blood
splashing on the diaphragm and abdominal wall is
sometimes seen, more in young males, but the aetiology
is obscure. Bruising provides a good indicator of the
adequacy of the handling of the deer, and a study of the
age and site of lesions can result in the detection of
the cause. Focal bruising can be caused by deer placing
the forelegs on the backs of other deer or by butting with
an antler stump.
Health monitoring can be carried out at the abattoir by
the recording and feedback of pathological findings and
the taking of liver samples for deficiency estimations.
There is considerable variability in the size of young red
deer stags, which may range from 46 to 146 kg live weight
and typically kill out at 55%. The carcases must be hung in
a chill room so that air can circulate freely between them,
drying the surface and cooling the carcase. If chilling
is too rapid, cold shortening of the muscles will occur
and produce tough meat. Electrical stimulation of carcases
immediately after slaughter hastens rigor mortis and
assists in the production of tender meat.
The field slaughter of farmed deer is usually practised
on farms which operate a farm shop retail outlet. Ante-
mortem inspection by a veterinarian must be carried out
within a 72-hour period prior to slaughter. After shoot-
ing, the deer are bled and transported to an approved
dressing facility on the farm. Alternatively, the bled
whole carcase can be transported to a licensed abattoir
Deer in velvet should not be subjected to abattoir
slaughter. Dis-budding of calves destined for slaughter
rather than breeding can be carried out.
Deer must be presented for slaughter in a clean condi-
tion, and therefore, access to wallows should be stopped
to reduce mud contamination of the ventral abdomen.
By minimising stress, the keeping quality of the carcase
is further safeguarded. As in other animals, stress causes
glycogen depletion in the muscles. On death, glycogen is
converted into lactic acid, creating an acidic environ-
ment. Low pH does not favour bacterial growth. An
average pH of 5.6, at 24 hours post-mortem, has been
recorded for red deer calves and yearlings.
During shedding out, deer must be subjected to mini-
mum stress to ensure no bruising or other injury occurs.
They should be kept in familiar groups and should not be
in close confinement overnight since fighting can occur
when they are left undisturbed, resulting possibly in death.
Suitable facilities are essential for loading when deer
are to be transported. Transport trailers should have
side-hinged solid gates to prevent the deer from jump-
ing out. Internal partitions should be as high as possi-
ble. Some transporters cover eye-level air vents to avoid
the deer being frightened by seeing vehicle lights flash-
ing by. Deer should not be left in vehicles overnight.
Hinds in late pregnancy, calves under 6 months and
stags in rut should not be sent for slaughter. Bedding
should be provided.
Deer are unsettled by translocation into an alien envi-
ronment. On arrival at the slaughterhouse, they should
not be driven off the vehicle, but allowed to come out
quietly by themselves. As they move readily from dark to
light, the lairage should be lit, but not to such an extent
that the deer are faced with a direct light source. There
should be separate facilities for bullied, ill or injured ani-
mals which allows them to still see other deer. Those that
are in pain or distress must immediately be humanely
slaughtered. Sticks and goads should not be used. Partitions
in the lairage should be solid and at least 2.5 m high; long
dark passageways should be avoided.
Strange noises, shapes and lights can push deer over
the fear threshold. Yorkshire boarding, which throws a
broken pattern of light, should be avoided. Deer should
be kept in familiar groups in the lairage and allowed time
to settle in subdued light. Some plants allow the animals
to arrive so that they have a resting period overnight.
Animals may be brought out individually into the
stunning crate for immediate stunning, but some slaugh-
tering premises have found that bringing animals in
pairs to the stunning crate causes less distress.
The stunning crate should admit single or pairs of
animals and have solid sides, with a string mesh cover to
prevent them from jumping out. The top may be draped,
