Sheep and Goats

For a rapid bleed out, it is recommended that sheep and goats should be stuck close to the heart in a similar manner to pigs (Figure 20, position 1). Alternatively, sticking may be performed by making a deep, transverse cut across the throat close to the head (Figure 20, position 2), to sever the four major blood vessels in the neck (Figure 21). This is only acceptable in sheep and goats because there is no direct blood supply from the vertebral artery to the brain.

Figure 20 Sheep and goats		Figure 21 Cross-section of neck

Animals should be bled as soon as possible after stunning, ideally during the tonic phase. At this stage the body is rigid, making sticking easier and safer.

When using a transverse cut across the throat, it is essential that both the carotid arteries and both jugular veins are effectively cut.