Measures preventing BSE-contamination during the slaughter of cattle

SRM-regulations and the prohibition of pithing have removed major risks of spreading BSE-infection. Traditional slaughter technology, especially captive bolt stunning, head handling and carcass splitting nevertheless still provide non-negligible risks for contamination with the BSE-agent if present in cattle, and should therefore be replaced by safer techniques. However, alternative methods like electrical stunning or removal of the spinal cord prior to splitting the carcass cannot yet be considered a reliable and practical option. Surface contamination could be prevented altogether by abandoning the practice of carcass splitting and by removing the vertebral column while still connected to the head, although this would result in disadvantages for post mortem inspection.