MODEL FOR MEASURING THE DISTRIBUTION OF T HE CURRENT-DENSITY IN PIGS HEAD AT ELECTRIC STUNNING

A modell was evaluated for measuring the distribution of the current d ensity in the head of pigs during electric stunning. It is possible to measure the current density in the different material of the head. Tw o pathways for the current could be discriminated: one around the bone of the head through the skin and the muscles between the stunnung ele ctrodes, the second through some holes in the bone like eyes and nervu s opticus and blood vessels int he brain. Only the current through the brain is important for stunning the animal. In our first experiments we found a reduction of the stunning current density in the brain of a bout 20% between optimal and nonoptimal electrode position.