ANIMAL WELFARE AND PORK CARCASS QUALITY ACCORDING TO STUNNING SYSTEM
Abstract
The aim of this paper was to study the influence of traditional stunning systems -electric and CO2 treatment- on animal welfare and carcass quality. Both systems were compared with them obtained by other authors using systems of immobilized and instantaneous application of electrical stunning (Midas® and Piglift). The results showed that the application of electrical stunning decreased carcass quality upon increasing the incidence of bone fractures, petechiaes and haemorrhages in noble pieces compared to CO2 stunning. CO2 stunning determined a better carcass quality, even when convulsive reactions after stunning were developed by pigs like consequence of an incorrect application of CO2 (high concentration and time). In these cases, an anomalous behaviour in pigs -a greater stress, stunned faulty and stronger convulsions after stunning- and in small degree, the same problems of quality described in electric stunning, were detected. The proportion of carcasses without defects of quality was 94% in pigs that did not present reactions after CO2 stunning. When convulsions appeared or electric stunning were used carcasses quality were 56,3% and 14,4%, respectively. Therefore, the control of CO2 stunning parameters would avoid these reactions in pigs and improve the technological carcass quality outstandingly.Downloads
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