Hemorrhages in muscles of broiler chickens: the relationships among blood variables at various rearing temperature regimens.
Hemorrhages in muscle tissue can be considered as major quality defects of broiler carcasses. They can be induced by stunning, especially electrical stunning. The underlying mechanism, however, is considered to be multifactorial. In this study, the effect of blood circulation disturbances on the severity of hemorrhages induced by electrical stunning was investigated. The disturbances were evoked in two genetically different, fast-growing broiler strains, Ross and Hybro, by rearing the broilers at low ambient temperatures. The broilers were slaughtered by two different electrical stunning methods. Broilers reared at low temperatures showed changes in blood variables and heart weight known to be associated with blood circulation disturbances. There was no effect of rearing temperature on hemorrhage severity. Ross broilers, being the most susceptible to low temperatures, had less severe hemorrhages than Hybro broilers. There was, however, a clear effect of the stunning method on hemorrhage severity. Whole body stunning caused more severe hemorrhages than head stunning in thigh and breast muscles. These results suggest that factors interfering with blood circulation have little or no effect on the occurrence of hemorrhages induced by electrical stunning.
Kranen
R W
RW
Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
Veerkamp
C H
CH
Lambooy
E
E
Van Kuppevelt
T H
TH
Veerkamp
J H
JH
D000003:Abattoirs; D000367:Age Factors; D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods; D000818:Animals; D001201:Ascites / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000662:veterinary; D001775:Blood Circulation / Q000502:physiology; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D001809:Blood Viscosity; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D002645:Chickens / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D006321:Heart / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D006400:Hematocrit / Q000662:veterinary; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat / Q000592:standards; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D009929:Organ Size; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013696:Temperature
D001798:Blood Proteins