Broiler carcass quality using head-only electrical stunning in a waterbath

Br Poult Sci. 2011 Aug;52(4):439-45. doi: 10.1080/00071668.2011.587181.

Abstract

1. The objective was to assess carcass quality of broilers when they were stunned by immersing their heads in a waterbath with an electric current flowing from one side of it to the other, while a second small current passed through the body to the waterbath to prevent involuntary wing flapping. 2. The prevalence of wing, shoulder and breast fillet haemorrhages and of broken bones in the pectoral region was not greater than that resulting from the normal stunning practice in that plant (63 mA, 610 Hz pDC). 3. These results imply that carcass damage using this technique will be significantly lower than that which will result from the application of higher stunning currents required by the new EU slaughter poultry slaughter regulations.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Abattoirs
  • Animal Welfare*
  • Animals
  • Chickens*
  • Electricity / adverse effects
  • Electroshock / methods*
  • Electroshock / veterinary
  • Food Handling / methods*
  • Meat / standards*
  • United Kingdom
  • Water

Substances

  • Water