EFFECT OF TWO STUNNING METHODS ON WELFARE INDICATORS AND CARCASS LESIONS IN CALIFORNIA RABBITS

Abstract

Consumers have legitimate concerns about the application of animal welfare procedures during the slaughter of rabbits. However, there is insufficient evaluation of such practices, particularly in small-scale rabbit-breeding operations in Mexico. This study aimed to assess animal welfare indicators during slaughter under different stunning methods. A total of 120 California rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus L.) were used, each one of which weighed 2 kg, and were distributed into four treatments in a 2² factorial arrangement to relate two methods of stunning (a₁ = concussion, a₂ = electronarcosis) and the sex of the animal (b₁ = male, b₂ = female) with the behaviors observed during slaughtering and the lesions in the carcass as factors that affect the animal’s welfare. Management indicators (number and precision of the application), behavioral indicators (attempts at escaping, kicking, vocalization, gaping, and arching of the back), and lesions in the carcass were registered. Descriptive statistics were obtained, and the behaviors were compared using nonparametric tests. Additionally, risk factors were identified in the carcass related to the slaughter methods, weight, and sex. During stunning, precision and kicking were different (p < 0.05), unlike vocalization (p = 0.7). During the slitting of the throat, time (p = 0.4), vocalization (p = 0.6), blinking (p = 0.7), corneal reflex (p = 0.8), and dilated pupils (p = 0.2) presented no differences between methods. However, there were differences in kicking (p < 0.01), gaping (p < 0.01), and arching of the back (p < 0.01). In the post-mortem evaluation of lesions, the carcasses that displayed the lowest number of lesions, with the smallest size and located on the legs, were from rabbits on which the method of electronarcosis (p < 0.001) was applied. The slaughtering method was a risk factor in the appearance of bruises (p > 0.0003). The method of electronarcosis was concluded to be more effective than concussion to induce the animal to lose consciousness during the slaughtering of rabbits.