Electronarcosis of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus): Effects on Dynamic Physiological Balance and Meat Quality

Title:Electronarcosis of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus): Effects on Dynamic Physiological Balance and Meat Quality

Volume: 15

Author(s): Antonio Cesar Godoy*, Deividy Miranda da Silva, Fábio Bittencourt, Leticia Fantini-Hoag, Mariana Lins Rodrigues, Rômulo Batista Rodrigues, Kátia Aparecida Weiler, Dacley H. Neu, Felipe Walter Dafico Pfrime and Altevir Signor

Affiliation:

• Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados. Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias. Rodovia Dourados - Itahum, km 12. Cidade Universitária, Dourados/MS. Brazil

Keywords: Animal welfare, aquaculture, easy handling, fish industry, industrial slaughter, stunning.

Abstract: Introduction: Electronarcosis is the most commonly used stunning method for large animals, but its consequences in tilapia still need to be evaluated. The aim of the study was to evaluate the application of electronarcosis in the pre-slaughter stunning of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis ni-loticus) and verify its effects on dynamic physiological balance and meat quality.

Methods: Nile tilapia specimens, totaling 184, with an average weight of 247.08 37.04 g, were randomly distributed. Each fish was individually placed in a rectangular tank constituted by a voltage regulator and aluminum electrode. The behavior of the fish subjected to different expo-sure times (5, 10, 20, and 30 seconds) and electric currents (1.50, 3.00, 4.50, and 6.00 amperes) with alternating and continuous currents was evaluated. Subsequently, the quality of the chilled fillets was checked after slaughter over a period of 35 days. The longest stun time was achieved using an alternating current of 3.00, 4.50, and 6.00A for 30 seconds.

Results: The fillet quality index (FQI) showed a high correlation with the storage time. In the first 15 days of storage, the fish stunned with different alternating currents maintained a higher MQI, meeting the meat quality standard when compared to fish slaughtered by ice stunning. The fish fillets obtained using different electrical currents showed a pH similar to the fish fillets stunned with ice.

Conclusion: Therefore, electronarcosis can be applied in the slaughter of tilapia using al-ternating current between three and six amps for 30 seconds, with euthanasia time of 37 and 46 seconds, ensuring safety in the slaughter procedures in the industry, the quality of the meat, and the well-being of the animal.

Cite this article as:

Godoy Antonio Cesar*, da Silva Deividy Miranda, Bittencourt Fábio, Fantini-Hoag Leticia, Rodrigues Mariana Lins, Rodrigues Rômulo Batista, Weiler Kátia Aparecida, Neu Dacley H., Pfrime Felipe Walter Dafico and Signor Altevir, Electronarcosis of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus): Effects on Dynamic Physiological Balance and Meat Quality, Recent Advances in Food, Nutrition & Agriculture 2024; 15 () . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/012772574X282761240314044845