Determination of plasmatic cortisol for evaluation of animal welfare during slaughter


https://doi.org/10.4081/ijfs.2017.6912
Vol. 6 No. 3 (2017)
Submitted: 14 July 2017
Accepted: 4 September 2017
Published: 29 September 2017
Animal welfare, Stress markers, Cortisol
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The plasmatic cortisol levels of 60 eight-month-old calves (Charolais breed) were measured as stress indicators resulting from two types of slaughter: traditional and religious rite. The plasmatic cortisol levels were evaluated during three different stages of their productive life: during growth, after transport and during slaughter. The thirty calves slaughtered after stunning showed plasmatic cortisol values of 4.85±3.2; 36.36±12.2 and 45.08±14.1 nmol/L, during growth, in the slaughterhouse stables and during exsanguination, respectively. Conversely, the average values found in the thirty calves subjected to ritual slaughter were 2.96±1.2; 31.65±25.4 and 68.70±30.6 nmol/L. The results of the study showed that animal welfare should be improved in both forms of slaughter.

Edmondo Ceci, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari
Veterinary Medicine Department
Patrizia Marchetti, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari
Veterinary Medicine Department
Roberta Barrasso, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari
Veterinary Medicine Department
Giuseppina Tantillo, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari
Veterinary Medicine Department
1.
Ceci E, Marchetti P, Samoilis G, Sportelli S, Roma R, Barrasso R, Tantillo G, Bozzo G. Determination of plasmatic cortisol for evaluation of animal welfare during slaughter. Ital J Food Safety [Internet]. 2017 Sep. 29 [cited 2024 Apr. 16];6(3). Available from: https://www.pagepressjournals.org/ijfs/article/view/6912

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