How do season, on-farm fasting interval and lairage period affect swine welfare, carcass and meat quality traits?

Abstract

This study was carried out in order to determine the effects of different combinations of on-farm fasting intervals (8, 12, 16, 20h) and 1.5h of transport plus lairage periods (1, 3, 6h) at different seasons (summer/winter) on blood stress parameters (cortisol and lactate), stomach content and weight, skin lesion and meat quality in a total of 960 pigs from eight farms. Blood lactate levels were greater in the summer (P < 0.001) and stomach content was affected (P < 0.05) by season, on-farm fasting interval (P < 0.001), lairage time (P < 0.0001). Stomach content weight reduces as the total feed withdrawal time increases up to on-farm fasting of 17 and 1h of lairage. Stomach content can be influenced by feed and water in different ways according to treatments. Only 8h of on-farm fasting is not enough to empty stomachs from feed content. However, an on-farm fasting period of 16h or longer can also increase the occurrence of more water in the stomachs. Carcass lesions caused by fighting were greater (P ≤ 0.005) in the winter, mainly after 3 and 6h of lairage (P ≤ 0.005). Loin and ham pHu was lower (P ≤ 0.05) for pigs slaughtered after 6h of lairage during the summer. The application of 12h of on-farm fasting with 6h of lairage seemed to be best combination to reduce stomach content weight (feed and water). In the winter, shorter lairage period can be used to reduce percentage of skin lesions and better pork quality traits in pigs.