Summary
The design and use of the Mark 4.1 restraining box can ensure consistent animal welfare outcomes compliant with OIE and DAFF guidelines during restraint and slaughter providing that SOPs and work instructions are implemented effectively. The application of the body squeeze and neck restraint bar holds animals without causing undue stress to facilitate slaughter without prior stunning.
Restraint of the neck using the modified neck restraint bar also improves worker safety as there is no requirement to manually restrain the animal's head. While this project is limited to the ability of the Mark 4.1 design to meet OIE requirements, it is recognised that complete compliance to the standards is dependent on the action and behaviours of the slaughtermen using the equipment. The actual operation and routine maintenance of the equipment is beyond the scope of this project, though is pertinent to the overall delivery of acceptable animal welfare outcomes. The use of the Mark 4.1 restraining box as a method of restraint for non-penetrating mechanical stunning requires further practical assessment.
