Semina: Ciências Agrárias (Sep 2014)

Influence of stunning methods on the welfare of glycerine-fed lambs

  • Viviane Correa Santos ,
  • Jane Maria Bertocco Ezequiel ,
  • Elisa Marcela de Oliveira D’Aurea ,
  • Vanessa Ruiz Fávaro ,
  • David Attuy Vey da Silva ,
  • Antonio Carlos Homem Júnior ,
  • Josiane Fonseca Lage ,
  • João Alberto Negrão

DOI
https://doi.org/10.5433/1679-0359.2014v35n4Supl1p2541
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 35, no. 4Supl1
pp. 2541 – 2554

Abstract

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The effects of electrical and non-penetrating bolt pistol stunning methods were evaluated. Forty uncastrated, mixed-breed (½ Santa Inês x ½ Dorper) males were used. The welfare of lambs was not affected (P> 0.05) by the inclusion of glycerin in the diet. The color of the meat (24 hours after slaughter) of lambs stunned with a non-penetrating bolt pistol was lighter (P> 0.05). The shear force, water-holding capacity, lipid oxidation and sarcomere length were not influenced by diet and stunning methods and exhibited average values of 1.59 kgf/cm2, 59.65%, 0.62 mg/kg and 2.26 ?, respectively. The animals stunned by electrical stimulation had a higher concentration of total leukocytes (7.22 x 103/ ?L) and creatine kinase (81.89 U/L). Based on welfare and meat quality, the non-penetrating bolt pistol can be considered an alternative stunning method for lambs.

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