Abstract: A method of stunning an animal for slaughter includes the steps of providing the animal for slaughter; conveying the animal using conveying means; while conveying, causing a first current pulse having a maximum duration of 10 seconds to flow through the head and/or neck region of the animal to stun the animal; and, while conveying, causing a second current pulse to flow through the body of the animal to cause a cardiac arrest. The first and second current pulses may be applied successively or may be overlapping or partly overlapping.

Abstract: A device for stunning animals for slaughter, such as pigs, sheep and the like. Prior to slaughter of the animal a stunning treatment takes place, wherein a current pulse is carried through the head of the animal. Use is made for this purpose of two electrodes which are pressed from two opposite sides against the head of the animal. After the electrodes have been thus pressed on, a current is passed through the electrodes whereby the animal is stunned.In this respect the device according to the invention has the special feature that the electrodes have in substantially vertical direction an independent first translation degree of freedom.

Abstract: A cutting device for arranging a cut around the anus of a slaughtered animal, which cutting device comprises:a positioning rod for insertion into the anus of a slaughtered animal;a rotatably drivable cylindrical beaker-shaped knife which is placed coaxially round the positioning rod and whereof the free end is provided with a cutting edge; andpressure means and suction means comprising a conduit extending through the positioning rod, debouching on the peripheral surface of the positioning rod at a distance from the cutting edge and connectable to a pressure source and an underpressure source respectively for generating an overpressure and an underpressure respectively at the position of the debouchment of that conduit.

Abstract: A method of stunning an animal for slaughter includes the steps of providing the animal for slaughter; conveying the animal using conveying means; while conveying, causing a first current pulse having a maximum duration of 10 seconds to flow through the head and/or neck region of the animal to stun the animal; and, while conveying, causing a second current pulse to flow through the body of the animal to cause a cardiac arrest. The first and second current pulses may be applied successively or may be overlapping or partly overlapping.