The evaluation of two commercial electric sheep stunning systems: current applied and the effect on heart function

Finola Orford; Elizabeth A Ford; Steven N Brown; Justin L McKinstry; Phillip J Hadley; Jeffrey Lines; Toby G Knowles; Stephen Wotton

doi:10.7120/09627286.25.3.331

The evaluation of two commercial electric sheep stunning systems: current applied and the effect on heart function

Finola Orford, Elizabeth A Ford, Steven N Brown, Justin L McKinstry, Phillip J Hadley, Jeffrey Lines, Toby G Knowles, Stephen Wotton^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article (Academic Journal) › peer-review

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Abstract

The maintenance of head-only minimum stunning currents for sheep to ≥1.0 Amp (EC Regulation 1099/2009) was examined in two trials in a commercial abattoir. In the first trial, a Jetco MS100 stunner failed to maintain the current to >1.0 Amp in 118 of the 228 sheep. In a second trial a Jetco MS105 delivered sufficient current in all sheep (n = 275) to meet the legislative requirement, apart from a single animal. Recorded electrocardiograms showed a regular heartbeat, with no evidence of ventricular fibrillation, in all animals in both trials following stunning and neck cut. Only one of the two stun units may therefore be considered to meet the requirements of EC 1099/2009 but both may meet the requirements for halal slaughter where pre-stun is considered acceptable.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	331-337
Number of pages	7
Journal	Animal Welfare
Volume	25
Issue number	3
Early online date	1 Aug 2016
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.7120/09627286.25.3.331
Publication status	Published - Aug 2016

Keywords

Animal welfare
electrical stunning
electrocardiogram
halal
sheep
voltage current

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10.7120/09627286.25.3.331

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abstract = "The maintenance of head-only minimum stunning currents for sheep to ≥1.0 Amp (EC Regulation 1099/2009) was examined in two trials in a commercial abattoir. In the first trial, a Jetco MS100 stunner failed to maintain the current to >1.0 Amp in 118 of the 228 sheep. In a second trial a Jetco MS105 delivered sufficient current in all sheep (n = 275) to meet the legislative requirement, apart from a single animal. Recorded electrocardiograms showed a regular heartbeat, with no evidence of ventricular fibrillation, in all animals in both trials following stunning and neck cut. Only one of the two stun units may therefore be considered to meet the requirements of EC 1099/2009 but both may meet the requirements for halal slaughter where pre-stun is considered acceptable.",

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AU - Brown, Steven N

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AU - Hadley, Phillip J

AU - Lines, Jeffrey

AU - Knowles, Toby G

AU - Wotton, Stephen

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KW - electrocardiogram

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The evaluation of two commercial electric sheep stunning systems: current applied and the effect on heart function

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