Electroencephalographic and blood parameters changes in anaesthetised goats subjected to slaughter without stunning and slaughter following different electrical stunning methods

Electrical stunning is the most widely used stunning method for sheep and goats. Because low frequency head-to-back electrical stunning induces cardiac arrest, it is non-compliant with halal requirements. In addition, conventional head-only electrical stunning method can have adverse effects on carcass and meat quality. To address these issues high-frequency electrical stunning systems were developed. High frequency head-to-back removes the potential for pain and distress compared with non-stunned slaughter and does not induce cardiac arrest like low frequency head-to-back stunning making it appropriate for halal. However, this claim is yet to be proven through a comprehensive neurophysiological study. Thus, the present study examined the effects of different pre-slaughter electrical stunning methods and slaughter without stunning on electroencephalographic and blood biochemistry changes. Thirty-two male Boer crossbred bucks were distributed into four groups of eight animals each and subjected to slaughter without stunning (SWS), low frequency head-only (LFHO) and low frequency head-to-back (LFHB) or high frequency head-to-back electrical stunning (HFHB). Slaughtering of animals with or without stunning was performed under minimal anaesthesia. Based on electroencephalograph results, at slaughter, the SWS animals showed an increase in brain electrical activity, which is consistent with the presence of post slaughter noxious sensory input associated with tissue damage. Meanwhile the electroencephalograph activities decreased immediately after application of electrical stunning in all animals, suggesting that they were insensible to pain during and after the neck cut. Electrical brain activities for goats subjected to HFHB were comparable to those for LFHO and those for LFHB. The percentage of animals that exhibited severe clonic activity was significantly lower after LFHB or HFHB stunning compared with LFHO. The concentrations of catecholamines and hyperglycemia in electrically stunned goats were higher compared with those from SWS. It was observed that LFHB caused cardiac arrest in all goats whereas all HFHB goats had no cardiac arrest. High frequency head-to-back electrical stunning may be an improvement on non-stunned slaughter and has advantages for meat quality. However, stunning effectiveness after head-to-back electrical stunning with high frequencies needs to be evaluated under industrial conditions before any recommendation is given.