Abstract
A total of 168 finishing pigs were used to investigate the effects of gender (barrows and gilts) and transport densities for slaughter (236, 251, and 275 kg/m²) on stress indicators and carcass and pork quality. The animals transported at 251 kg/m² (T251) presented cortisol values below those at 236 kg/m2 (T236), but no different from those at 275 kg/m2 (T275). The lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) values in pigs transported at T236 were the lowest. The blood components did not differ between T236 and T275. The pH values at 45 min (pH45) and at 24 h (pH24) postmortem were higher for pigs subjected to T236. However, the pH45 was higher at T251 than at T275, but pH24 was lower at T251 than at T275. The lightness values in the muscles of the pigs transported at T236 and T251 were higher than those at T275. Lower drip loss values were observed in the muscle of animals at T251. Carcasses of pigs at T236 contained more 1–5 cm lesions while those at T275 contained more 5–10 cmlesions in sections of loin. No significant effects of gender were found on the stress indicators, blood components, pH45, pH24, color, drip loss or carcass lesions in general. These results indicate that the pre-slaughter transport of pigs at densities of 251 kg/m² generates less physiological damage and smaller losses on carcass and pork quality irrespective of gender.
Highlights
Aspects of animal welfare have directly influenced the practices adopted in pig farming, especially those related to pre-slaughter handling procedures
The animals transported at 251 kg/m2 (T251) presented cortisol values below those at 236 kg/m2 (T236), but no different from those at 275 kg/m2 (T275)
The pH values at 45 min (pH45) was higher at T251 than at T275, but pH24 was lower at T251 than at T275
Summary
Aspects of animal welfare have directly influenced the practices adopted in pig farming, especially those related to pre-slaughter handling procedures. The animal transport, an important part of the process, is a complex stressing factor that involves fluctuations of temperature and density, withdrawal of food and water, mixing with strangers, movement, noises, unknown smells, and interaction with humans. Such factors lead to behavioral and physiological responses that can contribute to reducing animal welfare and the meat quality (Araújo, 2009; Ochove et al, 2010; Bryer et al, 2011; Ludtke et al, 2012). Transport density has shown influence on physiological parameters during transport such as elevated levels of LDH and creatine kinase (CK), as observed by Chai et al (2010). The genders have shown different responses to stress during transport, as gilts display lower loss by dehydration, fatigue and fewer skin lesions (Mota-Rojas et al, 2006; 2012) and greater lactate values and a lower percentage of hematocrit (HCT) compared with barrows (Herrera et al, 2010)
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