Electroencephalogram and Physiological Responses as Affected by Slaughter Empathy in Goats

Abstract

Recent advances in emotions and cognitive science make it imperative to assess the emotional stress in goats at the time of slaughter. The present study was envisaged to study the electroencephalogram and physiological responses as affected by slaughter empathy in goats. A total of 12 goats were divided into two groups viz., E-group (goats exposed to slaughter environment, n = 6) and S-group (goat slaughtered in front of E-group, n = 6). The electroencephalogram and physiological responses in male Boer cross goats (E-group) were recorded in a slaughterhouse in two stages viz., control (C) without exposure to the slaughter of conspecifics and treatment (T) while visualizing the slaughter of conspecifics (S—slaughter group). The exposure of the goat to the slaughter of a conspecific resulted in a heightened emotional state. It caused significant alterations in neurobiological activity as recorded with the significant changes in the EEG spectrum (beta waves (p = 0.000491), theta waves (p = 0.017), and median frequency MF or F50 (p = 0.002)). Emotional stress was also observed to significantly increase blood glucose (p = 0.031) and a non-significant (p = 0.225) increase in heart rate in goats. Thus, slaughter empathy was observed to exert a significant effect on the electric activity of neurons in the cerebrocortical area of the brain and an increase in blood glucose content.

Slaughtering of Water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) with and without Stunning: A Focus on the Neurobiology of Pain, Hyperalgesia, and Sensitization

“…Moreover, this could also be applied to other large ungulate species with partly similar skull structures in whom conventional stunning techniques might be less efficient. In addition, it is important to recognize that pain is a multimodal process that is not solely influenced by the technique or device, but by stressors such as fear, anxiety, inadequate handling, and overcrowding, as observed in small ruminants [50]. Moreover, phenomena such as stress-induced analgesia is known as an adaptive response to survival, as reported in laboratory rodents [72].…”

“…During transport to the slaughterhouse and herding the animals to the stunning box, stressors such as screaming, back-slapping, or using electric drivers can induce injuries, pain, fear, and anxiety [48,49]. In this sense, Kumar et al [50] evaluated the physiological and EEG response in 12 Boer goats exposed to other animals at the slaughter. It was determined that exposure to noise and shouting during these events increased beta and theta waves and the median frequency on EEG.…”

Investigating the impact of preslaughter handling intensity on goats: a study on behavior, physiology, blood enzymes, and hormonal responses

“…These alterations could be used as indicators of stress in animals ( 11 ). Exposure to various stressors leads to poor animal welfare and the animals’ physiological reactions and associated metabolic changes adversely affect meat quality ( 5 , 12 , 13 ).…”