Effect of preslaughter transport on carcass yield and indices of meat quality in sheep

Abstract

AbstractOne hundred and sixty castrated male crossbred lambs were fed a complete pelleted diet ad libitum for 4 weeks prior to slaughter at a live weight of about 32 kg in two trials carried out in June and November 1984. They were killed after having been subjected to withdrawal of food, but not water, for 21 h and either no transport on the day of slaughter or a journey lasting for 1, 3 or 6 h. Transport had no signijicant effect on the weights of any body components measured. However, although the effect was not statistically significant (P=O.25), sheep transported for 3 or 6 h produced slightly lighter (1.7%) carcasses than those either not transported or subjected to a 1‐h journey. Transported sheep had higher concentrations of plasma glucose and liver glycogen, and lower levels of plasma jkee fatty acids and urea N. Muscle glycogen, pHu or water holding capacity were not influenced by transport, but fibre optic probe value was lower in sheep transported for 1 h than in those transported for 6 h. No differences were found between the results of the two trials, suggesting that season was not important in determining the responses of sheep to transport.