Abstract

The effectiveness of electrical stunning of broiler chickens, applied using a constant current control device, was assessed in terms of both the return of breathing and neck resistance and subsequent carcass quality. Effectiveness of stunning was assessed by stunning individual birds with 105 mA/bird using 50, 500, or 1500 Hz sinusoidal AC for 1 or 4 sec. Carcass quality was assessed using the same device in two semi-commercial trials where stunning was applied using 50, 500, or 1500 Hz sinusoidal AC at four preset current levels, 80, 105, 120, and 150 mA/bird, in a constant current multibird waterbath. The duration of lack of neck resistance produced by the stun, where ventricular fibrillation was not induced, was similar regardless of the waveform-frequency combination employed. Stunning current level had no effect on the incidence of hemorrhagic conditions in the processed carcasses. High frequency waveforms were associated with a significant reduction in the incidence of breast muscle hemorrhaging, which indicates that their use could have a considerable commercial advantage.

Broilers, quality, stunning, welfare

Primary Audience: Poultry Processors, Researchers, Veterinarians

© 1999 Applied Poultry Science, Inc.
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Research Reports
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