Electrical and percussive stunning of the common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.): Neurological and behavioural assessment

Lambooij, E.; Pilarczyk, M.; Bialowas, H.; Boogaart, J.G.M. van den; Vis, J.W. van de

doi:10.1016/j.aquaeng.2007.04.004

Cited by 46 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…A rounded nylon cylinder of 60g is fired mid-dorsally with an air pressure 7.5 bars on the skull slightly rostral to the eyes. Not all the carp are rendered unconsciousness by this captive bolt gun (Hewitt, 1999;Lambooij et al, 2007) …”

Section: Methods Under Research and Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These conditions resulted in an overall current density of 0.14 A/dm 2 in water of 200 µS/cm conductivity. Recovery of carp could be prevented by applying the current for 5 seconds in combination with chilling of the stunned carp in flaked ice or in slurry of ice and water (Lambooij et al, 2007). …”

Section: Methods Under Research and Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is almost impossible to confirm death without resort to combined measurements of ECG and EEG over time (Lambooij et al, 2007; in press) however, this is only possible under experimental conditions. Consequently, physical damage to an unconscious fish that leads to brain destruction or complete exsanguination are the only reliable guarantees of death.…”

Section: Recognition Of Consciousness Unconsciousness and Deathmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Provided that sufficient current is administered through the head of an animal a general epileptiform insult (spreading across parts of the brain stimulating many cells) will occur (Lambooij et al, 2007).…”

Section: Basic Principlesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Species‐specific welfare aspects of the main systems of stunning and killing of farmed Carp

2009

EFS2

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SUMMARYFollowing a request from the European Commission, the Panel on Animal Health and Welfare was asked to deliver a scientific opinion on welfare aspects of the main systems of stunning and killing of farmed carp in the EU.A semi-quantitative risk assessment approach was used to rank the risks of poor welfare associated with the different commercially applied stunning and killing methods for carp. Areas of welfare concern were identified, as well as guidance for future research. The risk assessment was mainly based on expert opinion, due to the limited amount of quantitative and published peer reviewed data on the effects of the hazards associated with the stunning and killing of carp. Pre-slaughter stages, immediately before stunning and killing, which had a direct impact on carp welfare, were included in the risk assessment. Stunning and killing Stunning and killing of CarpThe EFSA Journal (2009)1013, 2-37 methods that are not commercially used in the EU, or used only on small scale were briefly described but excluded from the risk assessment.There are three methods currently practiced in the EU: asphyxia followed by percussion, percussion and whole body electrical stunning in water. All are methods followed by evisceration.This Scientific Opinion on common carp stunning and killing evaluated the methods currently used in farmed common carp in Europe. Methods used in other fish species other than those described in this Opinion may also be applicable to carp. The opportunity to develop new methods for slaughtering common carp is considerable and should be encouraged.Although limited data are available, there is a common understanding that the majority of carp are sold alive or as a whole fish by retailers (supermarkets, market sale) or at the farm and that less than 15% carp produced for human consumption is processed in commercial processing plants. Thus 85% of carp are slaughtered outside a regulatory framework and other forms of guidance that control stunning and killing methods.Based on the risk assessment the most important hazards in the pre-slaughter phase are associated with netting of carp. Handling, therefore, should be minimised, and care taken not to harm the fish.The practice of exposing carp to air for extended periods of time and in large batches (awaiting stunning) is identified as a major welfare hazard. A method for percussive stunning of carp with minimal exposure to air should be developed.For electrical stunning methods the most important hazard is exposure to insufficient current/voltage for a prolonged period and this is not compatible with causing immediate unconsciousness. Further research on electrical stunning methods should be carried out to ensure an immediate loss of consciousness.To the experts' knowledge emergency killing of carp for disease control has not occurred. If it is required then killing could be performed with an overdose of an anaesthetic.Standard operating procedures to improve the control of the slaughter processes to prevent impaired welfare should be introduc...

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Section: Methods Under Research and Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methods Under Research and Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Recognition Of Consciousness Unconsciousness and Deathmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Basic Principlesmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Species‐specific welfare aspects of the main systems of stunning and killing of farmed Carp

2009

EFS2

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“…Behavioral observations have been used to assess the welfare of terrestrial animals (Fraser and Broom, 1990) and fish (Lambooij et al, 2007;Lambooij et al, 2008) combined with brain and heart activity assays as approval. Also biochemical and physical measures like rigor index, muscle pH and ATP/AMP ratio are widely used for evaluating effects of slaughtering methods on imposed stress levels and meat quality of fish (Acerete et al, 2009;Ribas et al, 2007;Bagni et al, 2007).…”

Section: Kavehmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Rahmanifarah¹,

Shábanpour²,

Sattari³

2011

Turk. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci.

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This study evaluates different pre-slaughter stunning methods for common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) using behavioral responses and product quality investigations. A total of 32 fish were stunned using CO 2 , clove oil (CL), hypothermia via chilling (HY) and asphyxia (AS) in addition to a control group killed by a percussive blow to the head. Behavioral and quality measurements including pH, rigor mortis and flesh and skin color were used to determine the level of effects on behavior and quality. The results were indicative of aversive behavior associated to asphyxia, CO 2 and a cold shock (chilling). Flesh quality measurements revealed a rapid pH decline and earlier onset and resolution of rigor mortis in CO 2 and asphyxia group compared to clove oil and chilling groups. Using colorimetric assays of skin, asphyxia and CO 2 caused lighter, less red and yellower color with higher Hue. The asphyxia caused darker, yellower flesh with higher Hue and CO 2 caused lighter and yellower flesh with less reddish than other groups. The lowest flesh color saturation was observed in CO 2 group. Regarding to welfare issue and meat quality the less causative pre-slaughter method of aversive behavior which provides higher product quality is clove oil stunning.

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