FIELD-STUDY ON WELFARE ASPECTS OF THE MIDAS-STUNNING DEVICE WITH INARCO SYSTEM - PART II - PRELIMINARY FACTORS OF STRAIN AND MEAT QUALITY

Good electrical stunning depends on low preliminary factors of strain, good restraining, precise electrode placement, suitable current param eters and quick effective bleeding. Welfare aspects of the Midas-stunn ing device were evaluated under practical conditions on 6.056 pigs (60 -155 kg life weight) in three European plants (line speed: 156, 358, 3 65 pigs per hour). For current characteristics and stunning effectiven ess see part I (incidence of correct stunning: 99,1 %). Carcass/ meat quality aspects (broken spine bones, blood splash) were estimated refe rring to preliminary factors of strain (evaluated by sticking blood te mperature, blood lactate content and noise level) and animal-fitness ( judged by lean meat content and slaughter weight). The percentage of b roken spine bones (average 0,3-1,7 %) and blood splash is comparably l ow (average of 2nd/3rd degree: 4,8/1 % (M. semimembranosus) and 0,7/0, 2 % (Mm. adductores)). Especially blood splash is to be put into relat ion with excessive strain before slaughter, high lean meat content and high slaughter weight. High blood lactate concentration (average 12-1 7 mmol/l), sticking blood temperature (average 39,7-40,7 degrees C) an d noise level (87-99 db) characterise this strain. Negative influences on carcass/ meat quality as a result of stunning are not to be expect ed. It is concluded that the Midas-stunning device fulfils modern dema nds on welfare and meat quality. Stunning devices should generally be tested in a corresponding way.