Abstract
This study describes an evaluation of the current compliance of 5 medium voltage electrical stimulation units in Australia sheep abattoirs. According to Meat Standards Australia sheep meat eating guidelines electrical stimulation should enable carcasses to reach pH 6 between 18-35°C carcass temperature to optimise meat quality. At a number of abattoirs, a poor pH-temperature decline was observed reflecting a poor electrical stimulation performance. Most carcases at these plants had a pH of greater than 6 at a carcass temperature of 18°C so they did not meet the required pH-temperature window. At one abattoir where the system was optimised a high proportion of carcases reached pH of 6 or less before 18° C was reached.