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Published on: October 11, 2018
Controlled atmosphere stunning of poultry
1Stork PMT B.V., Boxmeer, The Netherlands.
Poultry Science
|March 2, 1999
Summary
Research shows that using controlled gas atmospheres for broiler killing significantly improves meat tenderness and reduces drip losses. This humane method also enhances animal welfare and eliminates blood spots, offering a promising alternative to traditional methods.
Area of Science:
- Animal Science
- Food Science
- Agricultural Engineering
Background:
- Extensive research has been conducted on poultry stunning and killing methods.
- Recent European collaborative research focused on gas mixtures for broiler processing.
- Existing methods raise concerns regarding animal welfare and meat quality.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness and humanness of gas mixtures for broiler stunning and killing.
- To assess the impact of gas killing on meat quality, bleeding efficiency, and plucking characteristics.
- To investigate the potential of gas atmospheres as an improved poultry processing method.
Main Methods:
- Broiler processing using various gas mixtures (argon, argon/CO2, hypercapnic hypoxia).
- Meat quality assessment: tenderness (shear force), color, drip, and cooking losses.
- Bleeding evaluation: blood loss percentage, blood spots, and venous blood content.
- Plucking analysis: feather release force and product handling.
- Animal behavior and physiological responses: reflexes, convulsions, EEG, evoked responses.
Main Results:
- Gas atmospheres, particularly anoxia via argon or argon/CO2 mixtures, show promise.
- Significant improvements observed in meat tenderness and reduced drip losses.
- Elimination of blood spots on thighs and breasts; improved bleeding efficiency.
- Enhanced feather release and product handling.
- Drastic improvements in animal welfare indicators and humane killing.
Conclusions:
- Controlled gas atmosphere killing is technologically optimal for broiler processing.
- Gas killing offers superior meat quality, improved bleeding, and enhanced animal welfare.
- Implementation requires legislative adjustments and industry awareness of economic advantages.
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