Electroencephalograms and electrocardiograms in young bulls following upper cervical vertebrae-to-brisket stunning |
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| Authors: | CJ Cook CE Devine KV Gilbert A Tavener AM Day |
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| Institution: | 1. Meat Industry Research Institute of New Zealand (Inc.) , 617, Hamilton, New Zealand;2. MAF Technology, Ruakura Agricultural Research Centre , Private Bag, Hamilton, New Zealand |
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| Abstract: | Passing an electric current (50 Hz, 400 V open circuit, current limited to 1.5 A) from two electrodes acting as a common single electrode set applied on each side of the dorsal surface of the neck (cervical vertebrae C2 to C5 region) to another placed on the brisket of young bulls causes fibrillation of the cardiac muscle, does not induce epileptiform changes in the electroencephalogram, and produces a state of body rigidity. Passing the same electric current through the same neck electrodes, now acting as two separate electrodes, without the brisket electrode, does induce epileptiform activity similar to that seen with head-only stunning, does not fibrillate the heart, and produces a state of limb rigidity lasting for some time after the stun. Given that the presence of epileptiform activity is a criterion for effective electrical stunning and is indicative of insensibility, neck-to-brisket stunning as described here does not appear to be humane. |
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