Microwave Stunning
| Project start date: | 01 January 1983 |
| Project end date: | 01 December 1986 |
| Publication date: | 01 December 1986 |
| Project status: | Completed |
Summary
Experimental work was carried out to determine the power required to achieve an effective stun with microwave energy and the capital and running costs associated with this type of stunning.
A study of the literature indicated that an 8-10C temperature rise of a rat’s brain would induce a loss of consciousness. Experiments were conducted to determine the power required to produce an 8C temperature rise in a sheep’s brain within 3 secs.
Objectives
The experimental work carried out was designed to determine the power requirements for a microwave stunning device to be used on sheep and thus assess the economic feasibility.
Key findings
The results obtained showed that it was possible to raise the temperature of a sheep’s brain to result in a stun.
Results showed that 34 KW of power are required to raise the temperature by 8C of an average brain mass of 114 grams with a ‘matched’ applicator.
From the final estimates on the size of equipment required for a microwave stunner for sheep, the equipment costs appear to be excessive in comparison with an automatic electrical stunning system.
Benefits to industry
Methods and equipment currently used in commercial abattoirs to stun sheep occasionally encounter practical problems during operation, leading to partial stuns which are inhuman. In addition, these processes are difficult to automate, particularly for horned sheep.
Microwave energy may provide a promising approach for a humane automated stunning technique for abattoirs. If proven valid, this will have major benefits to the red meat industry as labour cost savings are generated from the automated process, animal health standards are improved due to more consistent stunning and market access is increased through full compliance to Halal standards.
MLA action
As technology has improved and the economic feasibility of automation increases microwave stunning has become increasingly viable.
MLA currently has a project underway investigating its economic feasibility in today’s industry which has lev off the original learnings in this project.
Related MLA projects
P.PIP.0270; P.PIP.0322; P.PIP.0395; P.PIP.0354; G.PAW.0009
Future research
If the process can be made more economic, then further work could be conducted to design and develop a microwave stunner for industry. From the establishment of the physiological and engineering requirements for the microwave stunning of sheep, the results could be scaled-up to develop a stunner for cattle.
More information
| Project manager: | Jane Weatherley |
| Primary researcher: | CSIRO |
