Minimum duration of effective head-only electrical stunning of fallow deer (Dama dama) and time to loss of consciousness following a throat-cut

Authors: Dean JM, Devine CE, Cook CJ, Hogg B, Gilbert KV
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 42, Issue 4, pp 156-157, Aug 1994
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Deer, Livestock, Production animal, Ruminant
Subject Terms: Animal welfare, Animal handling, Nervous system/neurology, Slaughter
Article class: Correspondence

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Abstract: Recent work has demonstrated the success of headonly electrical stunning in both red (Cervus elaphus) and fallow (Dama dama) deer. This work has been extended to investigate the export market and welfare requirements of the minimum duration needed for successful stun and the time to loss of consciousness following a throat-cut (severance of both carotid arteries and jugular veins) alone in fallow deer. Methods similar to those previously described were employed and the effect of either electrical stunning using different durations of current or throat-cutting on the electro-encephalograms (EEGs) and behaviour of six mature fallow does and castrated bucks was examined…

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