Is electrical stunning humane?
A 17. Electrical stunning of livestock (also known as electronarcosis) causes immediate insensibility to pain by inducing epileptic type brain activity (similar to grand mal epileptic fits in humans), disrupting normal electrical function and thereby rendering the animal unconscious. Sufficient current should be passed through the brain for a sufficient period of time at the optimum voltage, frequency and waveform to ensure insensibility. There are two basic types of electrical stunning equipment used for sheep and pigs. In head-only stunning, hand held scissor-like tongs are placed on both sides of the animal’s head so that the brain lies between the electrodes. These must deliver sufficient electrical current through the animal’s brain to produce immediate unconsciousness. Head-body equipment involves holding the animal is a restrainer. Electrodes are placed over the head and back, passing current through the brain and heart, simultaneously stunning the animal and causing a cardiac a
