Group Restraint

Animals can be restrained either passively, by restricting the space available to them; or actively, by physically holding animals in position. Group restraint is a form of passive restraint that is particularly useful for smaller animals, i.e. sheep, pigs and young calves. Group restraint is beneficial for animal welfare, as not only is less individual handling required, but also animals are maintained in their social groups. 

Smaller animals (sheep, pigs and young calves) can be restrained by moving a small group of them into a pen which is just large enough for the number of animals. The limited space allows the stockman to handle the animals effectively whilst they remain relatively calm in the presence of their conspecifics.

One principle to remember when operating a group restraint system is that, unlike most handling systems, the key to success is to stop movement. In the case of group stunning, the area available to the animals increases as the group is stunned and so they increasingly move around. In this instance, certain design features can help keep the animals as calm as possible.

The design of a group stunning pen depends on a number of factors such as:

• How many staff are working in the pen
• The species being stunned
• The stunning method being used
• The throughput speed of the abattoir

A wide funnel-shaped pen can encourage the animals to position themselves facing in one direction and reduce the ability of the group to turn around. 

A simpler modification, which can prove successful in many cases, is to change the entry gate, or the wall next to the entrance, from solid construction to bars. On entering a pen, animals typically circle and try to exit the way they came in. Bars at the entrance allow animals to see out and encourages them to congregate and remain still. This enables handlers to catch or stun the animals effectively, with minimal distress, by positioning themselves behind the animals, in the blind spot.

The positioning of the shackle elevator can have a significant effect on the operation of a group stun pen. If positioned against a wall and off the ground there will be no hiding points where animals could place themselves out of reach. The suitable placement of the elevator can work like the wide funnel-shaped system described; helping to reduce animal movement.

To enable high standards of animal welfare, it is essential that there are enough shackles available, that there are sufficient pushers on the shackle elevator and that the elevator runs at a speed capable of removing stunned animals from the pen to the bleed point within 15 seconds.

Placing too many animals in a pen can cause problems by restricting access to the animals for both stunning and shackling, resulting in mis-application of the stunning equipment and delayed stun-to-stick times. Animals may also become injured by attempting to escape or as a result of crushing.

Group stun pens should be designed in such a way that the slaughterman can reach all areas of the pen. There should be no area where the animals are positioned so as to hinder the stunning process by compromising tong position or duration of the stun.

Further details of group stunning systems can be found in the leaflet Best Practice Guidelines for Group-Stunning Systems.