Electronarcosis protocols in broiler chickens for the halal market

Abstract

This study considered the parameters of the Halal market to evaluate different protocols for broiler electronarcosis regarding time to return of consciousness, bleeding efficiency, and carcass and meat quality. Was performed an experiment in a broiler slaughterhouse. One hundred and eighty-four 43 days old male broilers of the Cobb® strain were used. The experimental design used was completely randomized with 46 broilers for each protocol. The protocols used: 80 v and 600 Hz; 50 v and 1,000 Hz; 60 v and 1,000 Hz; 70 v and 1,000 Hz. Time to return of consciousness, bleeding efficiency, bruising, presence of broken bones in pectoral muscle, and meat quality were evaluated. Birds subjected to stunning by the 50 v / 1,000 Hz protocol showed the shortest time to return of consciousness after electronarcosis, and high incidence of breast hemorrhage. Birds subjected to the 60 v / 1,000 Hz protocol had a higher percentage of broken bones in the Pectoralis minor. The 50 v and 1,000 Hz electronarcosis protocol fits better to the halal market due to the shorter time to return of consciousness and improved bleeding efficiency. This study suggests new proposals for stunning protocols to serve the halal market.