Abstract
A total of 72 Merino breed male lambs were used in this work, to study the effect of the space allowance during transport [(SA): low (SAL: 0.16 m2/animal; n=24); medium (SAM: 20 m2/animal; n=24); high (SAH: 0.30 m2/animal; n=24)], and the management during 18 h lairage [(TL): fasting (TL-FAST; n=36) vs feeding (TL-FEED; n=36)] on carcass microbial contamination (total viable count, Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas) and meat quality. Carcasses contamination determination was carried out by swabbing (neck, flank and rump). Meat quality was assessed by pH, colour coordinates, drip loss (DL), shear force (SF) ad lipid oxidation. SA did not have effect on carcass microbiological quality. TL caused a significant effect on total viable count and Pseudomonas spp values. Flank was the most contaminated site. SAL-FEED group showed the highest values of drip loss and lipid oxidation. At 24 h post-mortem, pH values were the highest in fasted lambs. At 7 d post-mortem the lowest pH was found in SAM-FAST group while the highest in SAM-FEED. TL had no effect on SF, DL neither on lipid oxidation values. These results could help to meat industry to decide the best management as in the transportation as during lairage before lambs slaughter.
Highlights
Merino sheep is very popular in many countries around the world
Carcass microbial values and the effect of space allowance during transport (SA), management during lairage (TL) and sampling site (SS) and their interactions are presented in Tables 1 and 2, respectively
In general TVC values were higher in fasted lambs while Pseudomonas spp. counts was lower in this group
Summary
Merino sheep is very popular in many countries around the world. In Spain, is one of the main breeds (raised mainly in the South West), producing a lamb highly valued by consumers (Tejeda et al, 2008). Under normal production system conditions, lambs are reared on farms far from slaughter plants. For this reason, transportation conditions to the abattoir, such as the used space allowed, are critical point (Mirandade Lama et al, 2010). Afterwards animals are usually kept in lairage previous to slaughter. Pre-slaughter handling implies an important additional stress (Duncan, 2004). Some authors have pointed out that pre-slaughter handling conditions contribute to carcass and meat quality (Ferguson & Warner, 2008). The effect of space allowance during transport on carcass and/or meat quality has been studied on suckling lambs of several sheep breeds [De la Fuente et al (2010, 2012) on Assaf breed; Sánchez-Sánchez et al (2013) in Lacaune breed]
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