Hormonal responses of lambs to trucking, handling and electric stunning

A.J. Pearson, R. Kilgour, H. de Langen and E. Payne

Ruakura Animal Research Station, Hamilton

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Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production. 1977, 37: 243-248

The history and behaviour of 1028 lambs electrically stunned and slaughtered at a large freezing works and 46 lambs at a small abattoir were examined. Blood samples were collected at sticking and carcasses were scored for ecchymosis. A further 20 samples were obtained from non -stunned lambs at each location. Cortisol, noradrenaline, and adrenaline levels in non-stunned lambs indicated a high degree of agitation in the slaughterhouse environment. Electrical stunning caused a discharge of noradrenaline and adrenaline into the bloodstream resulting in levels respectively 20 and 14 times higher than in non-stunned lambs. Differences in hormone concentrations emerged between slaughtering locations and between mobs but no relationship was evident between hormone levels and the incidence of ecchymosis, either on an individual or on a mob basis. The potential use of endocrine profiles in the assessment of the stress response of slaughter animals is discussed.

Keywords: NZSAPAB;

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