Fish slaughter device includes fish positioning device with fish head abutment, against which the fish head abuts temporary stop position by controllable fish slaughter tool. Fish head abutment element is a trigger releasable by a trigger sensor of a controllable trigger, controllable to move the fish head abutment into different trigger positions. device includes a first control actuator with a first actuator, a coupling device, connecting the fish head abutment to the first actuator for adjusting movement into the trigger positions, and an additional second control actuator with a second actuator controllably placeable in at least two fixed trigger adjustment positions. The two actuators are coupled so an adjusting movement of the first actuator is stopped by a coupling impact against the second actuator in a fixed trigger adjustment positions, which brings about an associated trigger position of the fish head abutment.

A method for monitoring live poultry intended for slaughter includes checking managing parameters and process parameters of poultry flocks from breeding farms, and monitoring transportation of the flocks to a slaughterhouse and handling thereof at the slaughterhouse. Gas stunning parameters of the poultry are checked prior to throat-cutting thereof. Video shooting of the poultry's reactions during the stunning step is done to visually verify a degree of well-being thereof. Computer records are made available wherein a single video file corresponds to each poultry flock or group of flocks in which images of the visible reactions of the poultry are combined and synchronized with said managing and process parameters.

A method for monitoring live poultry intended for slaughter includes checking managing parameters and process parameters of poultry flocks from breeding farms, and monitoring transportation of the flocks to a slaughterhouse and handling thereof at the slaughterhouse. Gas stunning parameters of the poultry are checked prior to throat-cutting thereof. Video shooting of the poultry's reactions during the stunning step is done to visually verify a degree of well-being thereof. Computer records are made available wherein a single video file corresponds to each poultry flock or group of flocks in which images of the visible reactions of the poultry are combined and synchronized with said managing and process parameters.

The present disclosure generally relates to a method for humanely slaughtering animals, and more particularly to a method for slaughtering animals using a low atmospheric pressure system with or without the addition of inert gas. In particular, the animals are placed into a chamber, the chamber is sealed, and the pressure in the chamber is reduced along a predetermined pressure curve to a target decompression pressure, and maintained at the decompression pressure for a period of time until the animal achieves a state of death. The low atmospheric pressure slaughter is more humane than traditional slaughter techniques, and results in excellent meat quality.

A poultry stunning apparatus including a trough for containing water through which the poultry is carried for stunning. The apparatus also including an electrical control module configured to apply a DC current to the poultry at a voltage sufficient to stun the poultry and to apply AC current to the stunned poultry at a voltage and for a period of time sufficient to immobilize and relax the muscles of the stunned poultry, while at the same time avoiding or minimizing damage to the poultry tissue. The apparatus further including a stunning electrode positioned within the trough, the stunning electrode including a metal plate adapted and positioned within the trough to be contacted in a contact zone by the poultry as the poultry are carried along, the contact zone of the metal plate being substantially smooth and uninterrupted.

An electric gaff hook device includes an elongated pole having at least one hook that is positioned along the distal end. Each of the hooks including a curved shape, a sharpened tip, and a plurality of electrodes. A controller, user interface, power source and power output unit are provided along the pole. The power output unit receives power from the power source and sends amplified power to the plurality of electrodes based on a command from the user interface. The power discharged by the electrodes functions to stun and immobilize a fish for between about 1 and 3 minutes. A spike is provided along the distal end of the pole and includes a plurality of apertures forming a channel for receiving an elongated wire to euthanize and perform ike jime on the stunned fish.

A non-penetrating captive bolt device includes a threaded mechanism for retracting a bolt against a biasing force. The bolt includes an elongated rod that projects rearward from the rear end of the bolt through a compression type spring that biases the bolt forward. A trigger actuated catch is mounted on the threaded mechanism with an internal bore, and the rod extends therein. When the threaded mechanism is advanced forward, the trigger actuated catch is advanced forward and engages the elongated rod. Retracting the threaded mechanism retracts the elongated rod and compresses the spring. Actuating triggers on the trigger actuated catch releases the elongated rod and the spring biases the bolt to a forward position.

A method for processing a live fish can include: determining a set of fish attributes of a fish, optionally sorting the fish based on the set of fish attributes, euthanizing the fish, exsanguinating the fish, and/or any other suitable steps. In variants, the method can additionally or alternatively include: discarding the fish after sorting, further processing the fish, and/or tracking the fish. However, the method can additionally and/or alternatively include any other suitable elements.

The invention relates to an apparatus, designed and configured for stunning live poultry animals which are intended for slaughter and are located in containers, by means of a gas mixture comprising a stunning gas, which apparatus comprises a stunning chamber having at least two stunning zones, an introduction station, arranged on the inlet side of the stunning chamber, for the or each container containing live poultry animals and a discharge station, arranged on the outlet side of the stunning chamber, for the or each container containing stunned poultry animals, at least one transport conveyor for transporting the or each container in the transport direction T through the stunning zones from the introduction station to the discharge station, as well as means for delivering the gas mixture into the stunning zones of the stunning chamber, which apparatus is characterized in that the means for delivering the gas mixture comprises at least one injection pipe which is designed and configured to be movable relative to the container for detachable connection to the or each container and for detachment therefrom, in such a manner that each container can be filled with the gas mixture when it is in the state of detachable connection to the or each injection pipe. The invention relates further to an arrangement comprising such an apparatus and at least one container, and to a corresponding method.

A poultry stunning apparatus including a trough for containing water through which the poultry is carried for stunning. The apparatus also including an electrical control module configured to apply a DC current to the poultry at a voltage sufficient to stun the poultry and to apply AC current to the stunned poultry at a voltage and for a period of time sufficient to immobilize and relax the muscles of the stunned poultry, while at the same time avoiding or minimizing damage to the poultry tissue. The apparatus further including a stunning electrode positioned within the trough, the stunning electrode including a metal plate adapted and positioned within the trough to be contacted in a contact zone by the poultry as the poultry are carried along, the contact zone of the metal plate being substantially smooth and uninterrupted.