EFFECT OF DIFFERENT VOLTAGE AND FREQUENCY CONDITIONS IN BROILERS ELECRICAL STUNNING

The effectiveness of broiler stunning using different voltage and current frequency and the consequences on meat quality are reported. Loss of sensitivity was controlled in fifteen batches of medium and heavy broilers (i.e. corneal reflex, time for recover tension of neck muscles, quick beat of wings, head movements) and frequency of these signs was related to the theoretical (calculated) current that passed through the bird bodies. Prevalence of defects like pectoral muscles haemorrhages and coracoid’s or furculum’s fractures are not higher when frequency of current was reduced from 350 to 250 Hz and voltage maintained at 70-75 Volts, but the frequency of birds showing corneal reflex change from 91 to 33 percent and time for recover tension of neck muscles significantly increase. Any sign of reduced bleeding was observed and meat quality was similar in batches stunned at 250 and 350 Hz.