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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 02 September 2010
Effects of the period of pre-slaughter lairage and diet on responses to post-mortem electrical stimulation (ES) were observed in 113 bulls and 18 cows. The efficiency of ES was assessed by the rate of the decrease of muscle pH. Stimulation was made at 80 V for 45 s. ES significantly decreased pH values at 1 h after slaughter. The effect was greater for animals on a normal diet than for those on a reduced diet. ES was also more effective for animals killed within 2 h after transportation to the meat processing plant than for animals slaughtered 24 h after transportation. There were no significant differences in the effect of ES between sexes. The basic requirement for effective ES is a good condition of animals at slaughter.