SLAUGHTERING OF CATTLE

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXVII, Issue 8356, 17 February 1913, Page 11

SLAUGHTERING OF CATTLE

A new weapon for slaughtering cattle and other stock was the , subject of a demonstration at Islington during the Show week. It is known as the “air-killer,” and resembles somewhat a large sky rocket; the rocket end is a charged with compressed air, the stick an elongated valve terminating in a poleaxe only some two and a half inches long. On the pressure of a trigger the poleaxe is liberated against the head of the animal, the skull of which it penetrates without difficulty. The animal falls instantly. The “air-killer” has just been adopted by the Council of Justice to Animals as the result of an offer, of a £IOO prize for the best device calculated to revolutionise cattle slaughtering. The judges who made the award were Lord Ernest Hamilton, Hr Charles Reinhardt, Mr Basil E. Slade, Mr Frederick- Hobday, and Mr AV. G. Barnes. The “air-killer” was used upon sheep, calves, and bullocks, all of which were, with one exception, killed expeditiously. In the hand of gin expert there should be no failures. The air-chamber is easily charged by means of an ordinary foot pump to a pressure of 1501 b to the square inch, but 501 b pressure is sufficient to kill a sheep, 551 b a calf, and 801 b a bullock.