Authors : M.Y. Guerrero , S.C. Flores-Peinado , M. Becerril-Herrera , A. Cardona-Leija , M. Alonso-Spilsbury , M.M. Zamora-Fonseca , J. Toca , R. Ramirez , J.A. Toca and D. Mota-Rojas
Abstract: The aim of this research was to study the effect of cervical dislocation and electric stunning of the California breed rabbit with a rest period before sacrifice (at 70 days of age) as well as the effect of same on sanguineous pH, temperature, glucose levels, creatine kinase, and slaughter performance. Forty male and female rabbits of the California breed were used. The sacrificed animals had either cervical dislocation or electrical stunning performed on them, then sacrificed according to normal regulatory practices. Our study is based on two insensibilization methods, cervical dislocation and electric stunning. The results show that plasmatic glucose and temperature before sacrifice and after insensibilization were not affected significantly (p>0.05) in the rest period or by sacrificial method. The pH of the animals that were given a rest period previous to sacrifice was significantly different from the animals that were not given rest; no significant difference between the insensibilization methods was found. We found a significant difference for bleeding times (p< 0.05) between cervical dislocation with rest compared to electrical stunning without rest. The rest period (p>0.05) did not significantly affect the volume of blood recovered during bleeding. However when comparing bleeding volume by insensibilization method significant statistical differences (p< 0.05) were observed. There were no significant difference in the variables of carcass evaluation; however, the lack of a rest before sacrifice affected pH values and temperature of the rabbit meat significantly.
M.Y. Guerrero , S.C. Flores-Peinado , M. Becerril-Herrera , A. Cardona-Leija , M. Alonso-Spilsbury , M.M. Zamora-Fonseca , J. Toca , R. Ramirez , J.A. Toca and D. Mota-Rojas , 2007. Insensibilization of California Breed Rabbits and it’s Effect on Sanguineous pH, Temperature, Glucose Levels, Creatine Kinase and Slaughter Performance . Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances, 6: 410-415.