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Assessment of the efficiency of captive-bolt stunning in cattle and feasibility of associated behavioural signs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2023

KG Gouveia ,
PG Ferreira ,
JC Roque da Costa ,
P Vaz-Pires  and
P Martins da Costa
KG Gouveia*
Affiliation:
ICBAS Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Largo Prof. Abel Salazar 2, 4099-003 Porto, Portugal
PG Ferreira
Affiliation:
ICBAS Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Largo Prof. Abel Salazar 2, 4099-003 Porto, Portugal
JC Roque da Costa
Affiliation:
FMV Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Técnica de Lisboa, Rua Prof. Cid dos Santos, Pólo Universitário da Ajuda 1300-477 Lisboa, Portugal
P Vaz-Pires
Affiliation:
ICBAS Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Largo Prof. Abel Salazar 2, 4099-003 Porto, Portugal CIIMAR Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental (CIIMAR), Universidade do Porto, Rua dos Bragas 289, 4050-123 Porto, Portugal
P Martins da Costa
Affiliation:
ICBAS Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas de Abel Salazar, Universidade do Porto, Largo Prof. Abel Salazar 2, 4099-003 Porto, Portugal CIIMAR Centro Interdisciplinar de Investigação Marinha e Ambiental (CIIMAR), Universidade do Porto, Rua dos Bragas 289, 4050-123 Porto, Portugal
*
* Contact for correspondence and requests for reprints: [email protected]
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Abstract

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Efficient stunning is essential for the welfare of animals destined for slaughter. Several studies have dictated certain signs as reliable for the assessment of stunning efficiency in cattle. However, there is still a lack of data concerning the viability of these signs. The aim of the following study was to assess stunning efficiency at a slaughterhouse, studying the relationship between age, sex and breed of cattle and the efficiency of stunning and determining the feasibility of the following signs in assessing stunning efficiency: immediate collapse, muscle spasms, rhythmic breathing, rotation of the eyeballs, painful response to ear or nose pinch, vocalisation and muscle tone of the ears. Cattle were observed immediately after stunning and hoisting onto the bleed rail. Results showed that stunning efficiency decreased with age, was greater in females than males (for animals greater than 12 months of age) and was superior in ‘dairy’ compared to ‘beef’ cattle at all age ranges. Presence of ear muscle tone, absence of muscular spasms, presence of rhythmic breathing, and vocalisation were the most common signs of inefficient stunning recorded in the present study. Recognition of the most frequently occurring signs associated with inefficient stunning will point out the need for re-stunning, preventing animals from regaining sensibility.

Keywords

animal welfarebehavioural signscaptive-bolt stunningcattleEFSA reportstunning efficiency
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 18 , Issue 2 , May 2009 , pp. 171 - 175
Copyright
© 2009 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

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