Meat Notice 2018-02 - Mandatory thoracic sticking of calves

NSFS reference: 14

Issue date: 02/03/2018

Date of effect: Immediate

Review date: 2 March 2020

Contact officers:

Mac Tawadros
Veterinary officer
Export Meat program
02 8334 7568

Samantha Allan
National veterinary technical manager
07 3246 8606

Distribution categories

• Central and regional office
• Department on-plant officer(s)
• Managers, export meat establishments
• State/Territory regulatory authorities

Purpose

This notice provides export registered establishments with clarification for mandatory thoracic sticking of calves.

Scope

This notice applies to all export registered establishments slaughtering calves.

This notice replaces and supersedes meat notice 2005/05.

Background

Calves may have a prolonged bleeding time due to the presence of the bilateral vertebral arteries and the potential for occlusion of the cut peripheral arteries (e.g. the carotids) by clotting and/or constriction of the cut end which can delay bleeding and the onset of death.

Calf slaughter using only a neck cut does not sever the bilateral vertebral arteries supplying the brain. Calves may recover from the stun before permanent insensibility caused by blood loss.

Interruption of the vertebral arteries may be achieved by severance of the brachiocephalic trunk by the use of a ‘thoracic stick’, an incision with a knife through the thoracic inlet.

To maintain desirable animal welfare outcomes when slaughtering calves, it is mandatory to perform a thoracic stick immediately after the initial neck cut.

Scientific research is inconclusive on the relative importance of the vertebral arteries with regards to the significance of their role in supply of blood to the brain as calves grow older.

Definitions

The following table defines terms used in this notice.

Procedure

To maintain desirable animal welfare outcomes when slaughtering calves, it is mandatory to perform a thoracic stick immediately after the initial neck cut.

For bobby calves, the thoracic stick must be applied no more than 20 seconds after the stun.

For vealers and light vealers thoracic sticking is also required. It should be performed at a timeframe interval after the stun and initial neck cut that ensures the vealer and light vealers never regains consciousness as required by the Australian Standard (AS4696:2007 sub-clause 7.10).

The thoracic stick interval for vealers and light veal, must be established by the occupier to ensure ongoing compliance and must be included in the approved arrangement (AA).

Responsibilities

Establishment management must:

1. Amend the approved arrangement (AA) to comply with the requirements of this meat notice.
2. For bobby calf slaughter
• Apply a thoracic stick within 20 seconds of stunning to hasten the onset of bleeding and avoid any welfare concerns associated with bobby calves regaining consciousness on the bleed rail.
3. For vealer and light vealer slaughter
   • Establish a thoracic stick interval after the initial neck cut to ensure that the animals cannot regain consciousness or sensibility before dying.
4. Monitor the insensibility of bobby calves, light vealers and vealers to ensure that animals do not regain sensibility on the bleed rail.

Departmental on-plant veterinarian (OPV) will:

1. Provide establishment management with a copy of this meat notice as soon as possible.
2. Verify the establishment responsibilities and the actions of this meat notice have been included in the occupier’s approved arrangement (AA).
3. As per the frequencies in the MEVS verification schedule for slaughter floor process monitoring, observe bobby calf, vealer and light vealer slaughtering operations to verify compliance with the requirements of this meat notice.

Area Technical Managers (ATM) will:

1. Review and when satisfied approve the establishment’s amendment to the approved arrangement (AA).
2. Verify through audits the occupier’s compliance with the requirements of this notice.

Angela Davies
Director Export Meat Program 02 March 2018