Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the influence of liver milk spots on hematological, carcass and meat quality parameters in slaughter pigs. A total of 120 pigs with a live weight of approximately 115 kg and six months old were examined. Any signs of liver milk spots were recorded as present or absent according to Welfare Quality? protocol (2009). A complete blood picture was investigated. The following carcass quality parameters were measured: live, hot and cold carcass weights, dressing percentage, backfat thickness and meatiness. pH and temperature measurements were performed 45 minutes postmortem. Pork quality classes (PSE - pale, soft and exudative, normal, DFD - dark, firm and dry meat) were determined according to Adzitey and Nurul (2011) using pH45 value. Pigs with liver milk spots had significantly higher middle-sized cell count (monocytes, eosinophils, and basophils) and neutrophils count, but significantly lower red blood cell count, hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit and MCV than unaffected pigs. The same group of pigs had significantly lower live weight, hot carcass weight, cold carcass weight, dressing percentage and meatiness compared to the pigs free of milk spot lesions. Pigs showing liver milk spots had significantly higher pH45 value and incidence of DFD meat than pigs without pathological lesions in the livers. In conclusion, assessment of liver milk spots at slaughter line has potential to serve not only as an indirect measure of pig health and welfare, but also for the carcass and pork quality.
Highlights
A number of studies have previously reported that ascariasis results in significant economic losses to the pig industry, the occurrence of this helminth infection both under conditions of intensive and extensive pig breeding remains high (Vlaminck et al, 2015)
The presence of Ascaris suum infection and liver milk spots can lead to the following negative effects: (1) farm economic losses attributed to decreased daily weight gain, anthelmintic treatment costs, depressed growth rates and feed conversion efficiency (Sanchez-Vazquez et al, 2010), (2) changes in hematological values (Makinde et al, 1996; Zanga et al, 2003; Wieczorek et al, 2006), (3) slaughterhouse operator losses due to trimmings and disposal of organs unsuitable for human consumption (Pyz-Lukasik and Prost, 1999), (4) lower carcass and pork quality (Theodoropoulos et al, 2004; Knecht et al, 2011, 2012)
Pathological lesions detected at the slaughter line, such as liver milk spots, are often related to suboptimal production systems (Harley et al, 2012) and indicate a serious health and welfare problem on the farm of origin (Welfare Quality® protocol, 2009)
Summary
A number of studies have previously reported that ascariasis results in significant economic losses to the pig industry, the occurrence of this helminth infection both under conditions of intensive and extensive pig breeding remains high (Vlaminck et al, 2015). The presence of Ascaris suum infection and liver milk spots can lead to the following negative effects: (1) farm economic losses attributed to decreased daily weight gain, anthelmintic treatment costs, depressed growth rates and feed conversion efficiency (Sanchez-Vazquez et al, 2010), (2) changes in hematological values (Makinde et al, 1996; Zanga et al, 2003; Wieczorek et al, 2006), (3) slaughterhouse operator losses due to trimmings and disposal of organs unsuitable for human consumption (Pyz-Lukasik and Prost, 1999), (4) lower carcass and pork quality (Theodoropoulos et al, 2004; Knecht et al, 2011, 2012). The aim of this study was to determine the impact of liver milk spots on hematological, carcass and meat quality parameters in slaughter pigs
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