Electrical stunning effectiveness with current levels lower than 1 A in lambs and kid goats

• The effects of system and intensity on stunning effectiveness in lamb were assessed.
• Stunning with 0.3, 0.5, 0.7 and 1.0 A provoke instant unconsciousness in all lambs.
• Extent of unconsciousness is not different using 0.3, 0.5 and 0.7 compared to 1.0 A.
• Fewer lambs recover before death in HB compared to HO stunning.

An experiment with 360 lambs grouped into three Spanish commercial categories, (Pascual, 13–16 kg; Recental, 9–13 kg and Lechal <7 kg carcass weight) and kid goats (7 kg) was performed to assess stunning effectiveness after head-only (HO) and head-to-body (HB) electrical stunning with intensity currents of 0.3, 0.5 and 0.7 Amperes (A) compared to 1.0 A. After stunning, all animals showed tonic-clonic muscular activity and epileptiform EEG, absence of rhythmic breathing, corneal reflex, spontaneous blinking and pain sensibility. The quiescent EEG occurred earlier (P < 0.05) in HB compared to HO in all categories. More animals recovered corneal reflex and rhythmic breathing before onset of the quiescent activity after HO (from 15 to 50%) compared to HB (from 0 to 15%) (P < 0.05). Concluding, HO and HB electrical stunning with 0.3, 0.5 and 0.7 A induce effective stunning similar to 1.0 A in lambs and kid goats. After stunning and sticking, brain failure occurs earlier in HB than HO system.