Automated mechanical neck cutters

Automated mechanical neck cutters (ANCs) can be set-up to deliver a ventral neck cut, but it is essential that every bird is presented to the blade(s) in the correct orientation, otherwise the carotid arteries may be missed. A guide rail system should accurately position a bird’s throat against the rotating blade(s) to cut very close to the head-neck junction, and to a sufficient depth to penetrate the muscle and sever both common carotid arteries.

ANCs can have two blades, which can be set up so a bird’s neck passes between them; this may produce a bilateral neck cut which is acceptable if both common carotid arteries and both external jugular veins are severed.

ANCs must not be set up to deliver a dorsal neck cut because a) this may miss both common carotid arteries and result in a slow bleed-out, and b) it may damage the spinal cord and prevent further assessment of the effectiveness of stunning. Therefore, ideally, the spinal cord should not be severed. However, the priority is to sever both carotid arteries and if this outcome can only be reliably achieved in conjunction with some damage to the spinal cord, then this is acceptable and the more appropriate choice for animal welfare.

The height of an ANC must be adjustable in order to suit each batch and type of bird processed, so all birds are cut in the correct anatomical position.

Next: Stun-to-cut time