—Ample fresh water should be provided for drinking purposes, and sprinkling hogs and cattle is very desirable in hot weather. [Fig. 34] is a view of suitable resting pens. After the animals have rested a sufficient length of time to be in normal condition they should be driven to the killing pens carefully, and without undue violence, such as striking them across the back with heavy sticks, or prodding them unnecessarily while in the pens, as this abuse shows on the meat very readily when the hide is removed. This damage is invariably done on the loin and rump of the animal, and as this is the high-priced part of the meat, it will readily be seen that the loss is quite considerable. With stubborn or wild cattle it is often necessary to be quite severe, but a practiced handler of live stock will do it in such a manner as to avoid injuring the carcass.
FIG. 34.—CATTLE RESTING IN PENS BEFORE BEING SLAUGHTERED.
Driving Cattle.
—A wooden knob for the end of a prod pole will prevent a great deal of bruising and consequent discoloration of the meat. When penning cattle from overhead, the penner invariably prods the animal in the loin, oftentimes using his pole as a harpoon. The force of the blow thus inflicted, covering so small a surface, invariably makes a bloodshot spot, whereas, if the force of the blow were distributed over a portion three times as large no ill effect would be noticed, hence the use of the knobs on these poles will do away with the bruising of loins in handling and penning cattle. Poles electrically charged by a wire extending through the pole with a connection to the lighting system are used by many with good results.
FIG. 35.—VIEW ILLUSTRATING MODERN METHOD OF STUNNING CATTLE.
Knocking or Stunning Cattle.
—This represents really the first act in the slaughtering of cattle. After they have been driven into the narrow pens provided for the purpose, as shown in [Fig. 35], the knocker follows and with a four pound hammer strikes the animal a stunning blow in the middle of the forehead.
In former times cattle were speared, which was accomplished by walking over the top of the runways and with a long, sharp-pointed spear, severing the spinal cord. This method of killing, however, is barbarous and not nearly so efficacious as stunning by knocking, and has been superseded in all the large abattoirs of the United States by the method of knocking as shown in the view. It is advisable to use a hammer of comparatively large face, so as not to indent the skulls.