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Imprint
Assessment of stress reactions of slaughter pigs during their access to electrical stunning
Project
Project code: FLI-ITT-08-Ce-0037
Contract period: 01.04.2013
- 30.09.2013
Purpose of research: Applied research
Moving pigs to the stunning area has major impacts on the animals during slaughtering. In the project opportunities to optimize the driving of pigs to the electrical stunning unit are developed and implemented in a slaughterhouse (EGO Schlachthof Georgsmarienhütte GmbH & Co. KG) in order to reduce the animals ‘stress level with the aim of increasing stunning efficiency and improving meat quality. These measures include the optimization of human skills in handling of the pigs by appropriate further training of the employees and a modified placing of the electric tongs outside the animals` field of vision during a lateral position of the person who stuns the pigs. In addition, not only the effect of improved lighting in the passageways but also the effects of visual stimuli like mirrors or stimuli based on fragrances are investigated. To evaluate the animals` stress response, animal-based indicators (body temperature, reflexes, behavior, vocalizations) as well as blood indicators are investigated. Apart from the technical parameters and the characteristics of the slaughtering process, parameters for meat quality (pH value, water retention capacity, drip loss) are included in the study.
Section overview
Subjects
- Animal Husbandry
Framework programme
Excutive institution
FLI - Institute for Animal Welfare and Animal Husbandry (FLI - ITT)
