After a rest period and a warm shower, the animals are taken to the stunning room. The employees that work here have taken special training to handle the animals properly. They are re-tested on their knowledge every year.

 

The beef cattle are quickly stunned. When an animal has lost consciousness, an incision is made into its artery. The worker performing this task is a trained specialist.

 

All animals aged 30 months or older are tested for BSE by taking a brain tissue sample in the slaughterhouse.
This sample is sent to a specialised laboratory. Meat from tested animals is not processed until the tests show that the animal is free from BSE.

Blood is collected in special drainage troughs and storage tanks. Special hygiene requirements apply to collecting the blood, as it can be used for various critical purposes, e.g. as a raw material for the production of medicines by the pharmaceutical industry. The blood is collected and processed by a specialist company.