Electroencephalographic responses of halothane-anaesthetised calves to slaughter by ventral-neck incision without prior stunning

Gibson, T. J.; Johnson, Craig B.; Murrell, Jo; Hulls, CM; Mitchinson, Sheryl L; Stafford, KJ; Johnstone, A.C.

doi:10.1080/00480169.2009.36882

Cited by 128 publications

(110 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…This is congruent to our results where U animals had consistently higher, if not the highest, RMS values than did other stunned animals. The current work also demonstrated the close similarities between the results obtained for our non-stunned animals and those for the minimally anaesthetised calves by Gibson et al (2009a). There was a notable increase in the median frequency by almost 50% in the U animals post-slaughter, which was consistent with findings by Gibson et al (2009a).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

“…The current work also demonstrated the close similarities between the results obtained for our non-stunned animals and those for the minimally anaesthetised calves by Gibson et al (2009a). There was a notable increase in the median frequency by almost 50% in the U animals post-slaughter, which was consistent with findings by Gibson et al (2009a). This was accompanied by significant increases in both beta-and alpha-wave power densities among U animals following slaughter, at 170% and 110% of their T1 values, respectively.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 79%

“…Cutting of the throat stimulates nociceotors located in the neck tissue that cause a barrage of impulses to travel to the brain ). Previous work reported by Gibson et al (2009aGibson et al ( , 2009bGibson et al ( , 2009cGibson et al ( , 2009d clearly illustrated the benefits of stunning in ameliorating the noxious stimuli associated with throat cut, on the basis of electroencephalogram (EEG) measurements in calves. However, interpretation of EEG changes for pain and stress evaluation should not be carried out without inferring to other concurrent measurements.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Changes in blood parameters and electroencephalogram of cattle as affected by different stunning and slaughter methods in cattle

et al. 2014

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Abstract. The present study aimed to provide a comparative analysis of the effects of penetrative stunning, non-penetrative stunning and post-slaughter stunning on biochemical parameters and electroencephalogram (EEG) associated with stress in heifers and steers. Ten animals were assigned to each of the following four treatment groups: (1) animals were subjected to conventional halal slaughter (a clean incision through the structures on the ventral neck at the approximate level of vertebrae C2-C3 -the trachea, oesophagus, carotid arteries and jugular veins) and post-cut penetrating mechanical stun within 10-20 s of the halal cut (U); (2) high-power non-penetrating mechanical stunning using a mushroom-headed humane killer, followed by conventional halal slaughter (HPNP); (3) low-power non-penetrating mechanical percussive stunning using a mushroom-headed humane killer, followed by conventional halal slaughter (LPNP); and (4) penetrative stunning using a captive-bolt pistol humane killer, followed by conventional halal slaughter (P). For each animal, blood samples and electroencephalogram recordings were taken before stunning, post-stunning (if applicable) and post-slaughter, and plasma concentrations of cortisol, adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), adrenaline, noradrenaline and b-endorphin were determined. Irrespective of the stunning method, except for percentage change in plasma concentrations of noradrenaline, the values of blood parameters attained before and after stunning were not significantly different. The plasma noradrenaline concentration of the HPNP animals was significantly elevated following stunning. Following slaughter, the percentage change of plasma ACTH concentration in the P animals was significantly elevated. Neither stunning method nor sampling time had a significant effect on plasma b-endorphin concentration. On the basis of the EEG results, penetrative stunning seemed to be better in maximising the possibility of post-stunning insensibility, whereas U animals appeared to demonstrate an evident increase in EEG activity which is consistent with the presence of post-slaughter noxious stimuli associated with tissue cut and injury. The U animals had consistently higher, if not the highest, RMS values than did other stunned animals. This indicates a degree of EEG changes associated with stress and pain. On the basis of EEG data, our results suggested that penetrative stunning would be the most reliable method of ensuring insensibility and minimising pain. However, at slaughter, the P animals showed a dramatic elevation in the percentage change of circulating ACTH, suggesting physiological stress response. On a cautionary note, the results are not unequivocal, and it may be that the range of analyses available to researchers at this point of time are not sufficiently specific to allow definitive conclusions to be drawn.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 79%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Changes in blood parameters and electroencephalogram of cattle as affected by different stunning and slaughter methods in cattle

et al. 2014

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“…Isoelectric EEG was defined as EEG with an amplitude 1/8 or less of the active EEG amplitude (Gibson et al . 2009). BSR was calculated over a 120‐s period in the middle of the EEG recording by dividing the number of seconds of burst suppression by 120 and multiplying by 100.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of halothane on the electroencephalogram of the chicken

McIlhone

Beausoleil

Kells

et al. 2018

Veterinary Medicine & Sci

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Little is known about the effects of inhalant anaesthetics on the avian electroencephalogram (EEG). The effects of halothane on the avian EEG are of interest, as this agent has been widely used to study nociception and analgesia in mammals. The objective of this study was to characterize the effects of halothane anaesthesia on the EEG of the chicken. Twelve female Hyline Brown chickens aged 8–10 weeks were anaesthetized with halothane in oxygen. For each bird, anaesthesia was progressively increased from 1–1.5 to 2 times the Minimum Anesthetic Concentration (MAC), then progressively decreased again. At each concentration, a sample of EEG was recorded after a 10‐min stabilization period. The mean Total Power (PTOT), Median Frequency (F50) and 95% Spectral Edge Frequency (F95) were calculated at each halothane MAC, along with the Burst Suppression Ratio (BSR). Burst suppression was rare and BSR did not differ between halothane concentrations. Increasing halothane concentration from 1 to 2 MAC resulted in a decrease in F50 and increase in PTOT, while F95 increased when MAC was reduced from 1.5 to 1. The results indicate dose‐dependent spectral EEG changes consistent with deepening anaesthesia in response to increasing halothane MAC. As burst suppression was rare, even at 1.5 or 2 times MAC, halothane may be a suitable anaesthetic agent for use in future studies exploring EEG activity in anaesthetized birds.

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“…In this way, we ensured good visibility of birds for observations while controlling for social isolation which might otherwise affect the behaviour of birds killed individually, while maximising the size of the behavioural data set. To interpret EEG responses in relation to loss of consciousness, we applied a range of methods including spectral analysis which has been recently widely adopted [7,20,25,50,51]. In particular, we determined latencies to recently validated species-specific thresholds for different clinical states of consciousness [32,33,47].…”

Section: Accepted M Manuscriptmentioning

confidence: 99%

Behavioural, brain and cardiac responses to hypobaric hypoxia in broiler chickens

Martin

Christensen

Vizzier-Thaxton

et al. 2016

Physiology & Behavior

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A novel approach to pre-slaughter stunning of chickens has been developed in which birds are rendered unconscious by progressive hypobaric hypoxia. Termed Low Atmospheric Pressure Stunning (LAPS), this approach involves application of gradual decompression lasting 280 s according to a prescribed curve. We examined responses to LAPS by recording behaviour, electroencephalogram (EEG) and electrocardiogram (ECG) in individual male chickens, and interpreted these with regards to the welfare impact of the process. We also examined the effect of two temperature adjusted pressure curves on these responses. Broiler chickens were exposed to LAPS in 30 triplets (16 and 14 triplets assigned to each pressure curve). In each triplet, one bird was instrumented for recording of EEG and ECG while the behaviour of all three birds was observed. Birds showed a consistent sequence of behaviours during LAPS (ataxia, loss of posture, clonic convulsions and motionless) which were observed in all birds. Leg paddling, tonic convulsions, slow wing flapping, mandibulation, head shaking, open bill breathing, deep inhalation, jumping and vocalisation were observed in a proportion of birds. Spectral analysis of EEG responses at 2 s intervals throughout LAPS revealed progressive decreases in median frequency at the same time as corresponding progressive increases in total power, followed later by decreases in total power as all birds exhibited isoelectric EEG and died. There was a very pronounced increase in total power at 50-60 s into the LAPS cycle, which corresponded to dominance of the signal by high amplitude slow waves, indicating loss of consciousness.Slow wave EEG was seen early in the LAPS process, before behavioural evidence of loss of consciousness such as ataxia and loss of posture, almost certainly due to the fact that it was completely dark in the LAPS chamber. ECG recordings showed a pronounced bradycardia (starting on average 49.6 s into LAPS), often associated with arrhythmia, until around 60 s into LAPS when heart rate levelled off. There was a good correlation between behavioural, EEG and cardiac measures in relation to loss of consciousness which collectively provide a loss of consciousness estimate of around 60 s. There were some effects of temperature A C C E P T E D M A N U S C R I P T ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPTadjusted pressure curves on behavioural latencies and ECG responses, but in general responses were consistent and very similar to those reported in previous research on controlled atmosphere stunning with inert gases. The results suggest that the process is humane (slaughter without avoidable fear, anxiety, pain, suffering and distress). In particular, the maintenance of slow wave EEG patterns in the early part of LAPS (while birds are still conscious) is strongly suggestive that LAPS is non-aversive, since we would expect this to be interrupted by pain or discomfort. Highlights A novel stunning system uses hypobaric hypoxia to render poultry unconscious  We measured electroencephalogram, electrocardiogram and...

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Electroencephalographic responses of halothane-anaesthetised calves to slaughter by ventral-neck incision without prior stunning

Abstract: This study is the first investigation of the noxiousness of slaughter by ventral-neck incision, using EEG spectral analysis. It demonstrated that there is a period following slaughter where ventral-neck incision represents a noxious stimulus.

Cited by 128 publications

References 25 publications

Changes in blood parameters and electroencephalogram of cattle as affected by different stunning and slaughter methods in cattle

Changes in blood parameters and electroencephalogram of cattle as affected by different stunning and slaughter methods in cattle

Effects of halothane on the electroencephalogram of the chicken

Behavioural, brain and cardiac responses to hypobaric hypoxia in broiler chickens

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