title: CO(2) stunning may compromise swine welfare compared with electrical stunning.
abstract: The effects of two different stunning methods on critical blood values in fattening pigs at a federal inspection slaughtering plant were monitored. A total of 658 pigs from the same genetic line and origin, were randomly assigned to 3 treatments: reference baseline levels (resting pigs; T1), stunning with CO(2) (T2) and stunned electrically (T3). Energetic profile, acid imbalance and blood gas levels, were monitored. Significant differences (p⩽0.05) between treatments for all variables were found, CO(2) stunned pigs showed hypercapnia, hypercalcemia, hyperglucemia, lactic acidemia, and an increase in haematocrit, coupled with reduced pH,  [Formula: see text] , and Na; electrically stunned pigs had reduced blood pH,  [Formula: see text]  and  [Formula: see text] . The remaining indicators were increased in relation to the resting swine. Thus CO(2) stunning leads to a major imbalance because of mineral and acid base gaseous interchange, compared to electric stunning, thus possibly compromising animal welfare.
authors: Doctorate Program in Biological Sciences at Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana Iztapalapa-Xochimilco, Mexico. Calzada del Hueso 1100, Col. Villa Quietud, D.F. 04960, Mexico.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Becerril-Herrera
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Alonso-Spilsbury
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Lemus-Flores
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Guerrero-Legarreta
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Olmos-Hernández
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Ramírez-Necoechea
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Mota-Rojas