Abstract
The objectives of this study were (1) to determine the levels of cortisol (C) and catecholamines (adrenaline, A, and noradrenaline, NA) in lambs ( n = 45) at different age/slaughter weight [suckling vs light], in farm (T0), after transport (T1), in the slaughterhouse after lairage (T2) and (2) to study the effect of the type of stunning, electrically vs gas, on C, A and NA values, in both groups of slaughter weight. Levels of C and A at T0 and T1 were similar in both groups (suckling and light), but NA was higher in suckling lambs as in T0 ( P < 0.05) as in T1 ( P < 0.01). Levels of all hormones were higher in suckling lambs at T2 ( P < 0.05, P < 0.001 and P < 0.01, for C, A and NA, respectively). In general, the younger group showed higher values of C, A and NA than the light group after stunning, with significant differences on A and C in the electrically stunned lambs ( P < 0.001, P < 0.05 respectively) and on A in the gas stunned group ( P < 0.01). Only in the light group, levels of A were higher ( P < 0.01) in the electrically than in the gas stunned group. In conclusion CO 2 could be a good method to stun lambs because stress indexes were similar to levels found in electronarcosis method.
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