Effect of incomplete immersion of the head in waterbath stunners on the effectiveness of electrical stunning in ducks.
Ten ducks were subjected to electrical stunning with their heads completely immersed in the water of a waterbath, and 10 ducks received the same current while only the bill and skin over the crop made contact with the water. The effect on visual evoked responses in the brain was examined. A higher proportion of birds had lost their visual evoked responses immediately following the current with whole head immersion. It is suggested that crop and bill immersion is less effective in disturbing brain function than whole head immersion.
Gregory
N G
NG
Department of Meat Animal Science, University of Bristol School of Veterinary Science, Langford.
Wotton
S B
SB
D000003:Abattoirs; D000818:Animals; D004372:Ducks / Q000502:physiology; D004560:Electricity; D005074:Evoked Potentials, Visual; D006257:Head; D007101:Immersion; D014867:Water
D014867:Water