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A Survey of Stunning Methods Currently Used during Slaughter of Poultry in Commercial Poultry Plants

Food Safety and Inspection Service, Science and Technology Slaughter Inspection Standards and Procedures Division, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, dc 20250; Phone: (202) 720-3219; FAX: (202) 690-0824

Correspondence: George E. Heath

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) conducted a 1992 telephone/FAX survey of all poultry slaughter establishments in the United States to determine the types and prevalence of stunning practices for each poultry class presently in use by the poultry industry. The survey revealed that electrical stunning was used in slaughtering greater than 90% of all birds except light fowl and geese. Low voltage-type electrical stunning devices (10 to 25 volts) were used in 216 of the 329 poultry slaughter plants, while 63 plants used electrical stunners set at a range of other voltages and amperages with unspecified waveforms and frequencies. Further studies monitoring voltage, amperage, and waveforms of electricity concurrent with somatosensory-evoked potentials are needed to determine the adequacy of electrical stunning as a humane practice.

Key Words: Government regulations • poultry inspection • slaughter • stunning methods • USDA