Short Communication—Characterizing heart rate of beef cattle during stunning and exsanguination at slaughter

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2026
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Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate the changes in heart rate (HR) during stunning and exsanguination in slaughter-weight cattle stunned one (Experiment 1) or two (Experiment 2; one initial and one security stun) times with a penetrating captive bolt gun. Data were collected between April 2025 and April 2026. In Experiment 1, 21 steers (n = 21; BW = 662 ± 65 kg) were used, and in Experiment 2, 5 steers and 4 heifers (n = 9; BW = 666 ± 72 kg) were used. All cattle were fitted with a HR monitor while restrained in a hydraulic squeeze chute and were transported to the university processing facility the next day for slaughter. In both experiments, cattle were stunned (time 0 s) and rendered insensible with a pneumatic penetrating captive bolt stunner. Experiment 1 utilized one stun, and Experiment 2 implemented a secondary security stun (with a handheld captive bolt stunner) approximately 20 s after the first stun. HR was recorded from 60 s prior to stunning until 10 to 15 minutes post-stunning. Data were aggregated into one-second intervals. Prior to stunning (-60 s to 0 s), HRs in both Experiments were elevated compared to typical resting HR in cattle, with an average of 141 bpm in Experiment 1 and 120 bpm in Experiment 2. Immediately following captive bolt administration, HR increased rapidly, reaching an average peak of 165 bpm within approximately 12 s in both Experiments. After that, HR decreased, reaching a low near exsanguination and then peaked a second time (134 bpm at approximately 4 min post-stun and 120 bpm at approximately 2.7 min post-stun in Experiments 1 and 2, respectively). HR steadily declined as animals approached clinical death, reaching a plateau of 30 to 40 bpm at approximately 9 min post-stun; the bpm likely representing residual electrical impulse activity of the heart. Overall, the results provide a clear indication regarding HR in cattle under slaughter conditions and are relevant to discussions around the timing of cardiac death in cattle.
Reference Key
openalex_W7167835618 Use this key to autocite in the manuscript while using SciMatic Manuscript Manager or Thesis Manager
Authors Lily Edwards-Callaway, Huey Yi Loh, Davida Rimm-Kaufman, Mahesh Nair, Terry Engle, Robert Delmore, Keith Belk
Journal italian journal of animal science
Year 2026
DOI
10.1093/jas/skag207
URL
https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skag207
Keywords Keywords not found

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