Konsentrasi hormon kortisol pada sapi yang disembelih dengan metode konvensional dan Restraining Box Mark IV

Abstract

The aim of this study was to analyze the cortisol concentrations in cattle which were slaughtered by conventional and Restraining Box Mark IV methods without pre-slaughter stunning. Blood samples were taken from Brahman cross steer 15 each groups (n=30) in several abattoirs in West Java and Banten provinces. Blood samples were collected from carotis communis artery 1 minute post-slaughtering. Cortisol concentrations in serum were measured using radioimmunoassay (RIA). The average of cortisol concentrations in cattle which were slaughtered by conventional method is 44.85 ng/ml and cattle which were slaughtered using Restraining Box Mark IV is 24.88 ng/ml. There was significant correlation (p<0.05) between cortisol concentrations and slaughtering methods. Restraining Box Mark IV appeared to reduce stress in cattle. Slaughtering by using Restraining Box Mark IV was better than conventional method from animal welfare viewpoint.