Welfare assessment of novel on-farm killing methods for poultry.

Autor: Martin JE; The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies and The Roslin Institute, Easter Bush Campus, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom.; Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom., Sandilands V; Animal and Veterinary Science Research Group, Scotland's Rural College (SRUC), Edinburgh, United Kingdom., Sparrey J; Livetec Systems Ltd, Silsoe, Bedford, United Kingdom., Baker L; Animal and Veterinary Science Research Group, Scotland's Rural College (SRUC), Edinburgh, United Kingdom., Dixon LM; Animal and Veterinary Science Research Group, Scotland's Rural College (SRUC), Edinburgh, United Kingdom., McKeegan DEF; Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative Medicine, College of Medical, Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: PloS one [PLoS One] 2019 Feb 22; Vol. 14 (2), pp. e0212872. Date of Electronic Publication: 2019 Feb 22 (Print Publication: 2019).
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0212872
Abstrakt: There is a need for novel mechanical devices for dispatching poultry on farm following the introduction of EU Regulation (EC) no. 1099/2009 On the Protection of Animals at the Time of Killing. We examined three novel mechanical killing devices: Modified Armadillo, Modified Rabbit Zinger, a novel mechanical cervical dislocation device; and traditional manual cervical dislocation. The four killing methods were tested on 230 chickens across four batches. We measured behavioural, electroencephalogram and post-mortem outcomes in anesthetized laying hens and broilers at two life stages (juveniles and adults/slaughter age). Graeco Latin-Square designs systematically randomized killing treatment, bird type, age and kill order. All birds were lightly anaesthetized immediately prior to the killing treatment with inhalation of Sevoflurane. The novel mechanical cervical dislocation method had the highest kill success rate (single application attempt only, with no signs of recovery) of a mechanical method (96%). The Modified Armadillo was the least reliable with 49% kill success. Spectral analysis of electroencephalogram signals at 2 s intervals for successfully killed birds only revealed progressive decreases in median frequency alongside increases in total power. Later, total power decreased as the birds exhibited isoelectric electroencephalogram signal. Latencies to pre-defined spectral ranges associated with unconsciousness showed that birds subjected to manual and novel mechanical cervical dislocation achieved these states sooner than birds subjected to the modified Armadillo. Nevertheless all methods exhibited short latencies (<4 s). The Modified Rabbit Zinger had the shortest duration of reflex persistence for nictitating membrane, pupillary and rhythmic breathing post method application. Of the methods tested, the novel mechanical cervical dislocation device is the most promising mechanical method for killing poultry on-farm based on a range of behavioural, electroencephalogram and anatomical parameters. This device has the potential to fulfil the current need for a mechanical alternative to manual cervical dislocation.
Competing Interests: The authors have read the journal's policy and the authors of this manuscript have the following competing interests: JS is an employee of a commercial company Livetec Systems Ltd. Based on the research findings, Livetec Systems Ltd is now progressing development of a product. However, the research findings and product are all open access with no IP owned by the Livetec Systems. There are no patents, other products in development or marketed products associated with this research to declare.
Databáze: MEDLINE
Externí odkaz:
Nepřihlášeným uživatelům se plný text nezobrazuje