Q2E on the electrode positioning for stunning of pigs at slaughter
Subject
Advice on electrode positioning for stunning of pigs at slaughter (emergency cases)
Target audience
Policy workers, official veterinarians, animal welfare inspectors
In short the answer is:
Head only electrical stunning shall be carried out by using 1,3A and the electrodes shall span the brain. The ideal position of the electrodes is when they are placed on the left and right side of the head between the eyes and the base of the ears. However, other positions where the electrodes span the brain, like the position on top of the forehead and under the jaw, may induce effective stunning.
Further research is needed about the minimum current needed. Effective stunning should in all individual cases be judged based on Animal Based Indicators (i.e., tonic-clonic seizures, immediate collapse, absence of breathing).
The full answer:
Introphoto: Electrode positioning (©modified after Handbuch Tierschutzüberwachung bei der Schlachtung und Tötung (2021 p. 93))