ANIMAL STICKING

An animal sticking apparatus for sticking an animal to be slaughtered comprises a sticking tool having two rotary or oscillating cutting blades and support means mounting the sticking tool for insertion and withdrawal movements. The cutting blades perform a cutting operation upon insertion and advancement of the sticking tool into the thoracic entrance of the chest cavity of the animal, the sticking tool cutting tissues as it is advanced and enabling the stick wound to remain open upon withdrawal of the sticking tool to promote rapid exsanguination. The sticking tool after insertion into the animal is pivoted about a remote axis to sever blood vessels near to the animal heart ensuring massive and rapid blood flow. A pair of cutting blades are operative to cut the hide of the animal to form a pre-cut before insertion of the sticking tool, the blades being movable apart to separate the hide at the pre-cut so as to expose a substantially sterile surface into which the sticking tool is inserted. The pre-cut blades have cutting edges forming an acute angle to the hide surface and cause a cutting action from the hide inside surface to the outside for maintaining substantially sterile conditions on the inside of the hide pre-cut.