PREVALENCE AND DURATION OF INSENSIBILITY FOLLOWING ELECTRICAL STUNNING IN CALVES

Sixty-one calves were electrically stunned with 100-250 V currents (10 3-1806 mA) and the prevalence and duration of insensibility was assess ed from their physical behaviour, the presence of epileptiform activit y in their electrocorticograms, and the absence of visual evoked respo nses in their electrocorticograms. A current applied at 100 V across t he head for 3 s failed to induce insensibility in all cases. Currents at 150-250 V induced insensibility in all calves and the shortest dura tion of insensibility was 44 s. It is recommended that a 150-200 V cur rent would be appropriate for commercial use.