Abstract
Forty-one reindeer bulls (age 1 1/2 years) were subjected to different pre-slaughter treatments: herding for a short distance to a grazing corral, selection by use of a lasso, lorry transport and helicopter herding for 1, 2 and 3 days respectively. As control, 9 reindeer were shot without previous handling (in the mountains). The results indicated the traditional selection technique of using a lasso to be the most stressful and glycogen-depleting handling procedure so far studied. In the lasso-selected reindeer the lowest glycogen values and the highest ultimate pH values in the meat were measured. The values of the measured parameters indicating stress (aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT), urea, Cortisol and abomasal lesions) were also highest in these reindeer. By contrast, the modern method of herding by helicopter was not found to be detrimental to glycogen content, ultimate pH, the measured blood metabolites, or the frequency of abomasal lesions. In all treatment groups degenerative lesions were observed in the skeletal muscles. No relarionship between technological and sensory meat quality characteristics and skeletal muscle lesions in reindeer could, however, be found in this study. The study confirmed an earlier finding that a 'stress-flavour' could develop in reindeer meat after intensive pre-slaughter handling of the animals. Further study of when and how such "stress-flavour" develops ought to be undertaken.
Highlights
Modern reindeer management often includes stress factors s u c h as roundingup, herding, roadtransport and long pre-slaughter lairage times
Afterthe herding down to a grazing corral close to the slaughterhouse, a significant part of the glycogen stores had been consumed, while i n reindeer subjected to the lasso selection procedure and to both lasso selection and subsequent lorry transport most glycogen had been consumed
Whereas herding reindeer d o w n to the grazing corral and the selection procedure depleted the glycogen stores significantly, the glycogen content of all muscles studied from helicopter herded animals were much higher (Fig. 1)
Summary
Modern reindeer management often includes stress factors s u c h as roundingup , herding , roadtransport and long pre-slaughter lairage times. The purpose of this investigation was to study and quantify glycogen content and ultimate p H values in reindeer muscles and sensory quality of reindeer meat f r o m animals (1) unaffected by m a n u al or mechanical handling, (2) herded d o w n from the mountains to a grazing corral by combined use of helicopter, snowmobiles and dogs, (3) captured i n a traditional selection corral by use of the lasso, and (4) herded by helicopter for 1, 2 and 3 days respectively Another objective was to study stress-induced blood metabolites and pathological changes i n the abomasalmucosaandin three skeletalmuscles (M. longissimus dorsi, M. biceps femoris a n d M.triceps brachii) followingdifferenthandlingprocedures
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