slaughtering
Quick Summary
Meat packing, also known as the wholesale meat industry, is the process of slaughtering animals and preparing their meat for consumption. This industry is crucial for providing protein and other essential nutrients to humans.123
The process typically involves three main stages: preslaughter handling, stunning, and slaughtering. Preslaughter handling aims to minimize stress on animals, as stress can negatively impact meat quality. Stunning is done to render the animal unconscious before slaughter, with methods varying by species. Slaughtering involves bleeding the animal to remove blood, followed by species-specific procedures for skinning, evisceration (removal of internal organs), and splitting the carcass.456
Meat inspection is mandatory to ensure the safety, wholesomeness, and accurate labeling of meat products. This includes inspections before and during processing, as well as maintaining strict sanitation standards in all facilities. The Meat Inspection Act of 1906 was passed in the United States in response to unsafe and unsanitary practices within the meatpacking industry.78
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
Temple Grandin…pain and fear from the slaughtering process. Her designs enabled workers to move animals without frightening them. She also maintained that her acute visualization could be harnessed in making design decisions regarding other matters. For example, she said that she never would have located backup emergency generators in the nonwaterproof…
Read More…pain and fear from the slaughtering process. Her designs enabled workers to move animals without frightening them. She also maintained that her acute visualization could be harnessed in making design decisions regarding other matters. For example, she said that she never would have located backup emergency generators in the nonwaterproof…
Read More
Gustavus Swift…sending live cattle to be slaughtered on arrival, as was the custom. He therefore hired an engineer to design a refrigerator car; the finished design circulated fresh air that was chilled by passing it over ice. In 1877 Swift successfully shipped the first refrigerator carload of fresh meat to the…
Read More…sending live cattle to be slaughtered on arrival, as was the custom. He therefore hired an engineer to design a refrigerator car; the finished design circulated fresh air that was chilled by passing it over ice. In 1877 Swift successfully shipped the first refrigerator carload of fresh meat to the…
Read More
meat processingLivestock slaughter proceduresThe slaughter of livestock involves three distinct stages: preslaughter handling, stunning, and slaughtering. In the United States the humane treatment of animals during each of these stages is required by the Humane Slaughter Act.
Read MoreThe slaughter of livestock involves three distinct stages: preslaughter handling, stunning, and slaughtering. In the United States the humane treatment of animals during each of these stages is required by the Humane Slaughter Act.
Read More- poultry processingSlaughtering procedures
When the birds have reached “harvest” time, they are generally taken off of feed and water. This allows their digestive tracts to empty and reduces the potential for contamination during processing.
Read MoreWhen the birds have reached “harvest” time, they are generally taken off of feed and water. This allows their digestive tracts to empty and reduces the potential for contamination during processing.
Read More