Original scientific paper
The influence of stunning electrical current on the quality of broiler chickens
Jozef Nagy
; Department of food Hygiene and Technology, Section of meat hygiene, The University of veterinary medicine, Komenskeho 73, Košice, Slovakia
Peter Popelka
; Department of food Hygiene and Technology, Section of meat hygiene, The University of veterinary medicine, Komenskeho 73, Košice, Slovakia
Ludmila Korimova
; Department of food Hygiene and Technology, Section of meat hygiene, The University of veterinary medicine, Komenskeho 73, Košice, Slovakia
Khaled Hussein
; Department of food Hygiene and Technology, Section of meat hygiene, The University of veterinary medicine, Komenskeho 73, Košice, Slovakia
Abstract
The influence of stunning electrical current on the hygiene quality of broiler chickens was followed. Thirty nine broiler chickens were divided into four groups (I. = 10 birds, II. = 10 birds, III. = 10 birds, and IV. = 9 birds). The birds in each group were stunned by various volume of electrical current (I. - 90 mA, II. - 100 mA, III. - 110 mA, IV. - 120 mA). Immediately after the stunning, the corneal and comb reflexes, and blood losses were evaluated. Laboratory examinations were focused on the evaluation of haemorrhages in breast and thigh muscles, weight losses during the storage of meat at fridge temperature, the pH value in breast and thigh muscles, and the remission of breast and thigh muscles.
The results achieved showed that an electrical current of 120 mA was sufficient for poultry stunning according to the principles of animal welfare, and didn't negatively influence the hygiene quality of poultry carcasses.
Keywords
broiler chickens; stunning; electrical current
Hrčak ID:
21182
URI
Publication date:
15.2.2004.
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