| dc.description.abstract | Eletronarcosis by water bath is the electrical stunning method most widely accepted and used in chicken slaughterhouses in most countries of the world. Although it is provided for Brazilian law, legislation that rules the stunning methods for humanitarian slaughter, this method causes stress for the birds, such as hanging and drowning. This study aimed to investigate the feasibility and effectiveness of an electrical stunning device, by direct contact, using alternating current (AC) applied in the bird standing, and evaluate their implications on the intrinsic characteristics of chicken meat. Fifty six birds (Cobb 500, 42 days of age) were slaughtered, in a completely randomized design featuring factorial arrangement 2 by 2 by 2, being two forms of electrical current application, two frequency parameters, and both sexes. The results were analyzed based on the ANOVA methodology, with a significance level of 5% and Duncan's test. There is a significant linear correlation between the amperage and the weight of the animals. There was no statistical difference in terms of blood glucose level, meat color, drip loss of fluid content, water holding capacity, cooking loss, and shear force for both sexes submitted to the different methods of electrical stunning. The stunning system by direct contact is viable as regards the humanitarian slaughter assurance for the birds, without damage in the quality of the final product. However, studies involving its mechanization, in order to integrate into the packing industry, are needed | |
