Electric Goad Research Articles

Effects of certain risk factors on presence and severity of carcass bruising in cattle: A study in Turkey

The aim of the study was to examine the effects of some pre-slaughter factors on the total carcass bruise severity score and the presence of carcass bruises. Bruises on 1027 cattle carcasses were evaluated with the “The Australian Carcass Bruise Scoring System,” and at least one bruise score was determined in 92.7% of the carcasses. The total carcass bruise severity score increased as the animal's age, transport time, and AWACT (the Welfare Impact Score of Stockperson Actions) score increased (P < 0.001). The probability of the presence of carcass bruising increased 2.751 times in the autumn (P = 0.031) and 2.200 times in the summer (P = 0.072) compared to the winter. Carcass bruises tended to be 1.747 times more common in females than males (P = 0.065), and 65.9% less in the Simmental than Brown Swiss breed (P = 0.060). Human contact (OR = 1.685; P = 0.079) and electric goad using (OR = 1.762; P = 0.069) on the slaughter corridor tended to increase the probability of the presence of carcass bruises. In conclusion, to reduce the presence and severity of carcass bruises, it may be beneficial to focus on the improvement of handling and coercion practices applied by the stock person, to slaughter the cattle in the nearest slaughterhouse, and to pay more care to the handling of culled cattle.

The Visual, Auditory, and Physical Environment of Livestock Handling Facilities and Its Effect on Ease of Movement of Cattle, Pigs, and Sheep

The visual, auditory, and physical environment livestock are handled in will have an effect on the ease of movement through races and corrals that are used for veterinary treatment, loading trucks or at slaughter houses. When livestock refuse to move easily through a handling facility, people are more likely to use electric goads (prods) or other aversive methods to move them forward. This is a major animal welfare concern. Modification of the environment can improve livestock movement and reduce aversive handling methods. In existing facilities used for handling cattle, pigs or sheep, simple changes such as, adding a light to a dark race entrance or reducing loud intermittent noise may improve livestock movement. Eliminating distractions such as, a noisy truck near a lairage can also facilitate cattle movement and reduce stopping or turning back. In an outdoor facility, sharp shadows on the floor were more likely to be associated with cattle stopping compared to no shadows or soft faint shadows. The installation of small solid walls to prevent approaching animals from seeing either moving equipment, vehicles or people in front of them may also improve forward livestock movement. Non-slip flooring is essential to prevent slipping and falling during handling. Rebuilding or completely redesigning an existing facility is often not required. Outcome based indicators should be used to assess continuous improvements in handling. Some of the commonly used measurable of handling are slipping and falling, stopping, turning back, vocalization during handling and electric prod use. Collecting data both before and after an environmental modification can be used to determine its effectiveness.

Association between animal welfare indicators and microbiological quality of beef carcasses, including Salmonella spp., from a slaughterhouse in Ecuador.

Background and Aim:Pre-slaughter management and slaughter operations are considered critical factors for animal welfare and meat quality. Previous studies have found poor animal welfare management at municipal slaughterhouses in Ecuador, and little is known about how this affects the microbiological quality of the meat. Therefore, the aim of the study was to analyze the association of the microbiological quality of beef carcasses and animal welfare indicators in a municipal slaughterhouse in Ecuador.Materials and Methods:Data for 6 months were collected from a municipal slaughterhouse in Ecuador. Five trained researchers were strategically located along the slaughter process. A total of 351 animals were observed with regard to welfare indicators, and their carcasses were sampled to evaluate microbiological quality. Antemortem (slipping, falling, and vocalization) and postmortem animal welfare indicators (bleed interval, pH, temperature, and bruises) were measured. To determine the total aerobic bacteria (TAB) and Escherichia coli counts and the presence of Salmonella spp., we collected samples by swabbing four different points of each carcass. The association between microbiological quality and animal welfare indicators was studied using univariate and multivariate logistic regressions.Results:The mean TAB count was 5.3 log CFU/cm2, and the mean total count of E. coli was 2.4 log CFU/cm2. Salmonella spp. were isolated in 3.1% of the carcasses. An electric goad was used in all animals, 19.1% slipped at least once, and 19.9% vocalized. The mean pH of the carcasses was 7.2, and 79.2% of carcasses had bruises. Multivariate analysis showed that Salmonella spp. and the TAB count were associated with pH and the number of bruises (p = 0.01 in both cases).Conclusion:Although there was non-significant association between the majority of animal welfare indicators and microbiological quality, the poor management affecting animal welfare and carcass hygiene are worrisome.

Animal handling and stress-related behaviour at mobile slaughter of cattle

By avoiding animal transportation, mobile slaughter may have the potential to reduce animal stress. In a cross-sectional study with elements of cohort design, we investigated relationships between animal handling and stress-related animal behaviours in connection with slaughter at two Swedish slaughter plants: a newly started small-scale on-farm mobile abattoir and a relatively large-scale stationary slaughterhouse. To the stationary plant, the animals were transported on average 99 km from farms, and one third of these animals spent one night in lairage before slaughter. Data were collected during processing of 298 animals at both plants during one year. Stockperson actions and animal behaviours were observed in the driveways (2.4–7.3 m long) to the stun box. Data on season, hour of day, air temperature, animal breed, animal category, animal age, carcass weight and stockperson category (plant or farm) were also collected. We used Spearman rank correlation, principal-component analysis and confirmatory factor analysis to develop a final generalised structural equation model, which contained six variables that represented observed animal backing; turning; slipping; eliminating; vocalising; and violent behaviour, regressed on a latent variable representing animal stress level. Stress level and animal behaviours were also regressed on five variables representing observed stockperson actions (touching, patting or hitting with hand; touching, patting or hitting with a tool; pushing; tail-twisting; and prodding with an electric goad) and on background variables including plant identity. The animal behaviours were modelled as counts per driveway length, clustered on farm identity. Marginal effects of stockperson actions and predictive margins of plants were calculated. The animals displayed backing and violent behaviour (kicking, goring or violent fighting) at significantly lower frequencies at the mobile plant than at the stationary one. In general, stockperson actions were significantly positively associated with animal behaviours, i.e. increased actions were associated with more frequent behaviours. Stockperson moving with tool, pushing and using electric goad were indirectly significantly associated with all animal behaviours via animal stress level. This study shows the importance of adequate cattle handling to limit pre-slaughter stress.

Livestock-handling assessments to improve the welfare of cattle, pigs and sheep

Assessing animal welfare during handling for veterinary procedures or loading onto a truck is simpler than is assessing welfare in housing. The first step is preventing acts of abuse that everybody who is interested in animal welfare would want stopped. Acts of abuse include beating animals, poking sensitive areas, dragging downed animals, deliberate slamming of gates on animals or deliberate driving animals over the top of downed animals. The next step is to implement objective numerical scoring of animal handling. The outcome measures that should be used are percentage of animals that fall, strike fences or gates, vocalise during restraint, are miscaught in the head stanchion or are moved with electric goads. Repeating these measurements over a period of time will make it possible to determine whether practices are improving or deteriorating. Further improvements in handling can be obtained with stockmanship training. Physiological measures of stress such as cortisol, lactate or glucose are useful for assessing handling methods because handling is a short-term stressor.

Minor corral changes and adoption of good handling practices can improve the behavior and reduce cortisol release in Nellore cows.

Inadequate corral facilities and improper handling are major causes of stress in beef cattle. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of minor changes in the corral and adoption of good handling practices on the behavior, cortisol release, and time spent taking blood samples in Nellore cows. Minor corral changes included obstructing the cow's vision when the handler walked deep into the animal's flight zone and the elimination of bright objects, color contrasts, puddles, shadows, and darkness in the corral. Handling was improved by eliminating dogs, electric goads (prods), and yelling, as well as adopting a calm behavior. A total of 141 Nellore cows from two typical extensive livestock farms were studied. The cows were evaluated individually before and after the corral changes. Blood samples were collected in the restraint device for cortisol measurement. The minor corral changes and the adoption of good handling practices result in better results for all variables studied. The results showed differences in the interactions between treatment and ranch for chute score (P=0.0091) and exit score (P<0.0001). The cortisol release was lower (P<0.001) and better for the improved methods, resulting in calmer cows compared to cortisol released before the minor changes (41.03±2.9 vs 60.40±3.8ng/mL). Minor changes made in the corrals and the adoption of good handling practices were effective in improving cow behavior in the chute and in reducing exit velocity, cortisol released, and the time spent taking blood samples.

Auditing animal welfare and making practical improvements in beef-, pork- and sheep-slaughter plants

AbstractA welfare audit that utilises numerically scored, animal-based outcome measures has been used successfully by McDonald's and other restaurant companies for over ten years. In 2010, audit data from two restaurant companies indicated that all 30 of their North American plants rendered 95% or more of the cattle insensible with a single shot from a captive-bolt gun. Eight pork plants that used electrical stunning placed the tongs correctly on 99% or more of the pigs. All animals were insensible prior to hoisting. In 32 beef plants, the percentage of cattle vocalising in the stunning area was 5% or less. In 94% of the beef plants and 86% of the pork plants, none of the animals fell during handling. The worst falling score was 2% in two of the plants. High standards were attained by making simple changes. To improve welfare, plant managers did the following: improved stunner maintenance; installed non-slip floors in stun boxes and unloading ramps; and trained employees. To reduce balking and improve animal movement, the following modifications were made: illumination of dark race entrances; moving of lamps to eliminate reflections; reducing equipment noise; stopping employee yelling; installation of solid sides on races or shields to prevent animals from seeing activity outside the facility; and the elimination of air blowing in the faces of approaching animals. Employees were trained to use behavioural principles of animal handling such as the point of balance and the flight zone. The five numerically scored outcome measures in this audit are critical control points that can detect a variety of problems. They are: i) the percentage of animals stunned effectively with a single application of the stunner; ii) the percentage of animals falling during handling must be 1% or less to pass; iii) the percentage of pigs or cattle vocalising (moo, bellow, squeal) in the stun box or while entering into the stun box must be 5% or less to pass (vocalisation scoring is not used for sheep); iv) the percentage of animals moved with an electric goad; and v) the percentage of animals rendered insensible before hoisting must be 100% to pass an audit. An animal is scored as either silent or as a vocaliser and whether stunned correctly with a single application or not stunned correctly. The audit also contains a list of banned practices that will result in an automatic failure. To maintain improvements in handling, 23 plants have installed video cameras that are monitored by auditors viewing the footage over the internet. These external auditors perform numerical scoring at random times throughout the day. Video auditing over the internet is an important new tool for improving welfare.

Bem-estar animal no manejo pré-abate e a influência na qualidade da carne suína e nos parâmetros fisilógicos do estresse

Avaliaram-se os efeitos do sistema de embarque/desembarque (S1: veículo 1, carroceria com piso móvel e uso de prancha de manejo para condução dos suínos; S2: veículo 2, carroceria com piso fixo e uso de bastão elétrico para condução dos suínos) e da genética (A, B e C) sobre as características físico-químicas da carne, lesões na pele e parâmetros fisiológicos do estresse. Foram utilizados 120 suínos machos castrados (peso médio de 115kg) provenientes de três granjas divididos em seis grupos (n=20) e submetidos a dois tipos de veículos para o transporte. Para a análise estatística, consideram-se, no modelo de análise da variância, os efeitos de blocos (dias de avaliação), sistema de embarque/desembarque, genética e interação entre as linhagens genéticas e modelos dos veículos dispostos no esquema fatorial (2 modelos de veículos x 3 linhagens genéticas). Os valores médios obtidos para o pH24h (5,60±0,046 e 5,57±0,046), cor*24h(41,52±1,256 e 41,21±1,486), perda por exsudação (4,76±0,391 e 4,86±0,391), capacidade de retenção de água (0,038±0,03 e 0,039±0,003) não demonstraram diferença entre os sistemas de embarque e desembarque (S1 e S2) nas genéticas A, B e C. A incidência de escoriações de pele no pernil, corpo e paleta não diferiram entre os métodos de embarque e desembarque nas genéticas A, B e C. Ambos os sistemas S1 e S2 geraram baixos níveis de estresse e proporcionaram facilidade de manejo nas genéticas avaliadas.

Assessment of cattle welfare at a commercial slaughter plant in the northwest of Mexico

Slaughter plants have been undergoing radical transformations in recent years due to the need to increase efficiency and incorporate new technologies for the improvement of the infrastructure, animal welfare, and product quality. The aim of this study was to assess the cattle welfare status during the unloading, lairage, stunning, bleeding and quantify bruising incidence at a commercial slaughter plant in the northwest of Mexico. We monitored 8,118 cattle during the unloading, lairage, stunning, bleeding, and carcass bruise incidence. Our results showed that in the unloading stage, 2% of the cattle vocalized, 5% were prodded with an electric goad, and 4% either slipped or fell. In the lairage stage, 12% of the animals vocalized, 80% prodded with an electric goad, and 8% of the animals slipped or fell. In the stunning stage, 10% of the animals vocalized, 67% prodded with an electric goad, and 15% of the animals slipped or fell. Ninety-five percent of the animals were stunned with a single shot, and 51% of the animals were effectively desensitized. Ninety-two percent of the carcasses had some type of bruise. Although the slaughter plant had adequate infrastructure and stringent operational standards, in all of the stages except unloading handling had an impact on the welfare of the animals being slaughtered.

Effect of feed withdrawal and dietary energy source on muscle glycolytic potential and blood acid-base responses to handling in slaughter-weight pigs1

The effects of dietary energy source and feed withdrawal on muscle glycolytic potential (GP) and blood acid-base responses to handling were investigated in slaughter-weight pigs (initial BW 94.7 ± 1.01 kg). Crossbred pigs (n = 96; 48 barrows, 48 gilts) were used in a randomized complete block design with a 4 × 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments: l) diet [control, high fat (10% supplemental fat), low-digestible carbohydrate (20% total starch), and high-fat/low-digestible carbohydrate (10% supplemental fat and 20% total starch)]; 2) feed withdrawal (0 and 36 h); and 3) sex (barrow and gilt). Diets were fed for 28 d before the feed withdrawal treatment was applied, at the end of which all pigs were individually moved through a 12.20-m-long × 0.91-m-wide passageway for 16 laps (195 m total distance), with the assistance of an electric goad (2 times per lap). Longissimus muscle biopsies were collected at the beginning of the feeding and feed withdrawal periods and immediately after and 4 h after the handling procedure. Venous blood was collected 2 h before and immediately after the handling procedure to measure acid-base responses. At the end of the feeding period, pigs fed the control and high-fat diets were heavier (P < 0.001) than those on the low-digestible carbohydrate and the high-fat/low-digestible carbohydrate diets (129.8, 130.9, 114.0, and 122.1 kg, respectively; SEM 1.91). Diet, feed withdrawal, and sex did not affect (P > 0.05) blood acid-base responses to handling. Muscle GP at the end of the feeding period and 4 h posthandling was least (P < 0.05) for pigs fed the high-fat diet and similar for the other 3 diet treatments. Pigs subjected to 36 h compared with 0 h of feed withdrawal had less GP (P < 0.05) immediately after and 4 h after the handling procedure. There was an interaction between diet and feed withdrawal treatments for changes in GP from the start of feed withdrawal to 4 h posthandling. The reduction in GP was greater (P < 0.05) for fasted than for fed pigs receiving the control and high-fat diets, but was similar (P > 0.05) for fasted and fed pigs receiving the 2 low-digestible carbohydrate diets. In conclusion, neither dietary energy source nor fasting affected blood acid-base responses to handling; however, fasting-induced changes in LM GP were diet dependent.

Auditing animal welfare at slaughter plants

The OIE Welfare Standards on slaughter transport, and killing of animals for disease control are basic minimum standards that every country should follow. The OIE, European Union, and many private standards used by commercial industry have an emphasis on animal based outcome standards instead of engineering based standards. Numerical scoring is used by both private industry and some governments to access animal welfare at slaughter plants. Five variables are measured. They are: 1) Percentage of animals effectively stunned on the first attempt, 2) Percentage rendered insensible, 3) Percentage that vocalize (bellow, moo, squeal) during handling and stunning, 4) Percentage that fall during handling, and 5) Percentage moved with an electric goad. Each one of these critical control points measures the outcome of many problems. A good animal welfare auditing system also has standards that prohibit really bad practices such as dragging, dropping, throwing, puntilla, and hoisting live animals before ritual slaughter. On farm and transport problems that can be measured at the slaughter plant are: percentage of lame animals, percentage of thin animals, percentage of dirty animals, percentage with sores, bruises or lesions, death losses, morbidity, and percentage of birds with broken wings and legs.

Effects of multiple concurrent stressors on rectal temperature, blood acid-base status, and longissimus muscle glycolytic potential in market-weight pigs1

Sixty-four market-weight (130.0 +/- 0.65 kg) barrows (n = 16) and gilts (n = 48) were used in a split-plot design with a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments: 1) handling intensity (gentle vs. aggressive), 2) transport floor space (0.39 vs. 0.49 m(2)/pig), and 3) distance moved during handling (25 vs. 125 m) to determine the effects of multiple concurrent stressors on metabolic responses. For the handling intensity treatment, pigs were moved individually approximately 50 m through a handling course with either 0 (gentle) or 8 (aggressive) shocks from an electric goad. Pigs were loaded onto a trailer and transported for approximately 1 h at floor spaces of either 0.39 or 0.49 m(2)/pig. After transport, pigs were unloaded, and the distance moved treatment was applied; pigs were moved 25 or 125 m through a handling course using livestock paddles. Rectal temperature was measured, and blood samples (to measure blood acid-base status) were collected 2 h before the handling intensity treatment was applied and immediately after the distance moved treatment was applied. A LM sample to measure glycolytic potential was collected after the distance moved treatments on a subset of 32 pigs. There were handling intensity x distance moved interactions (P < 0.05) for several blood acid-base measurements. In general, there was no effect of distance moved on these traits when pigs were previously handled gently. However, when pigs were previously handled aggressively, pigs moved 125 compared with 25 m had greater (P < 0.05) blood lactate and less (P < 0.05) blood pH, bicarbonate, and base-excess. Pigs transported at 0.39 compared with 0.49 m(2)/pig had a greater (P < 0.01) increase in creatine kinase values; however, transport floor space did not affect any other measurements. Data were analyzed by the number of stressors (the aggressive handling, restricted transport floor space, and 125-m distance moved treatments) experienced by each pig (0, 1, 2, or 3). As the number of stressors experienced by the pig increased, rectal temperature, blood lactate, and LM lactate increased linearly (P <or= 0.01), and blood pH, bicarbonate, and base-excess decreased linearly (P < 0.01). These data suggest that the stressors evaluated had additive effects on several indicators of metabolic stress responses in finishing pigs.

Effects of distance moved during loading and floor space on the trailer during transport on losses of market weight pigs on arrival at the packing plant1

Effects of distance moved during loading and floor space on the trailer during transport on the incidence of transport losses (dead and nonambulatory pigs) on arrival at the packing plant were evaluated in a study involving 42 loads of pigs (average BW = 131.2 kg, SD 5.05). A split-plot design was used with a 2 x 6 factorial arrangement of the following treatments: 1) distance moved from the pen to the exit of the building [short (0 to 30.5 m) vs. long (61.0 to 91.4 m)] and 2) transport floor space (0.396, 0.415, 0.437, 0.462, 0.489, or 0.520 m(2)/pig). Loading distance treatments (sub-plots) were compared within transport floor space treatments (main plot). Pigs were loaded at the farm using sorting boards and, if necessary, electric goads, transported approximately 3 h to a commercial packing plant and unloaded using livestock paddles. The number of nonambulatory pigs during loading and the number of dead and nonambulatory pigs at the plant were recorded. Nonambulatory pigs were classified as fatigued, injured, or injured and fatigued. In addition, the incidence of pigs exhibiting signs of stress (open-mouth breathing, skin discoloration, and muscle tremors) during loading and unloading was recorded. There were no interactions (P > 0.05) between distance moved and transport floor space treatments. Moving pigs long compared with short distances during loading increased (P < 0.001) the incidence of open-mouth breathing after loading (24.9 vs. 11.0 +/- 1.03%, respectively) and tended to increase the incidence of nonambulatory pigs during loading (0.32 vs. 0.08 +/- 0.09%, respectively; P = 0.09) and of nonambulatory, injured pigs at the plant (0.24 vs. 0.04 +/- 0.07%, respectively; P = 0.06). However, distance moved did not affect other losses at the plant. Total losses at the plant were greater (P < 0.05) for the 3 lowest floor spaces compared with the 2 highest floor spaces, and pigs provided 0.462 m(2)/pig during transport had similar transport losses to those provided 0.489 and 0.520 m(2)/pig (total losses at the plant = 2.84, 1.88, 1.87, 0.98, 0.13, and 0.98 +/- 0.43% of pigs transported, for 0.396, 0.415, 0.437, 0.462, 0.489, and 0.520 m(2)/pig, respectively). These data confirm previous findings that transport floor space has a major effect on transport losses and suggest that these losses are minimized at a floor space of 0.462 m(2)/pig or greater.

Acute stress induced by the preslaughter use of electric prodders causes tougher beef meat

Adrenergic activation and hormone release preslaughter is an inevitable outcome of the systems used to move cattle to slaughter. The aim of this experiment was to investigate the effects of acute preslaughter stress in beef cattle on postmortem muscle metabolism and the meat quality, including consumer-assessed eating quality. Eighty-four cattle were used on three separate days, with ‘mobs’ of four cattle allocated to either a ‘control’ (no electric goads used preslaughter) or a ‘stress’ (six prods given with an electric goad over 5–10 min) treatment at 15 min preslaughter. Cattle undergoing the ‘stress’ treatment had higher plasma lactate at slaughter. The prerigor pH and temperature, ultimate pH and temperature at rigor of the longissimus thoracis muscle were similar between treatments (P &gt; 0.05 for all). The water-holding capacity of the longissimus lumborum was reduced by the ‘stress’ treatment, as indicated by higher levels of water lost during suspension (drip loss), storage (purge) for 21 days and cooking (cooking loss at 1 day postslaughter) (P &lt; 0.05 for all). ‘Stress’ cattle produced longissimus lumborum muscle with similar sarcomere lengths and Warner–Bratzler shear force at 2, 6 and 21 days, compared to ‘control’ cattle (P &lt; 0.05 for all). The longissimus lumborum muscle of cattle undergoing the ‘stress’ treatment was rated less tender, less juicy, with a less acceptable flavour, a lower ‘liking’ and a lower MQ4 score (P &lt; 0.05 for all). The ‘bloomed’ surface colour (CIE L*, a*, b*) of the longissimus lumborum muscle at 2, 6 and 21 days postslaughter was similar between the ‘stress’ and ‘control’ treatments (P &gt; 0.05 for all). In conclusion, cattle subjected to acute preslaughter stress using electric goads produced meat which the consumer rated as tougher with inferior quality. The inferior quality induced by the acute stress treatment was associated with reduced water-holding capacity but was independent of muscle pH and temperature.

Progress and challenges in animal handling and slaughter in the U.S.

Both well-designed equipment and trained employees are required to maintain a high standard of animal welfare during slaughter. When McDonald's Corporation started auditing U.S. beef and pork slaughter plants in 1999, there were great improvements in handling and stunning. They used a numerical objective scoring system. It contained five basic measurements: (1) the percentage of animals stunned on the first attempt, (2) percentage rendered insensible prior to hoisting, (3) percentage vocalizing during handling and stunning, (4) percentage that fall down and (5) percentage moved with an electric goad. Each variable was scored on a simple yes/no basis. Baseline data was collected prior to the McDonald's audits in 1996. The most striking improvements were in beef. The average effective first shot stunning score was 89.5% in 1996, 96.2% in 1999 and 98.6% 5 years later in 2003. The average percentage of cattle vocalizing during stunning and handling was 10% in 1996, 2.4% in 1999 and 2.0% in 2003. A total of 50 plants were audited. Most plants were able to greatly improve welfare by improving stunner maintenance; installing non-slip floor gratings in stun boxes and better training. They also had to make simple, low cost changes to eliminate distractions that cause animals to balk and refuse to move. The most common ways to improve animal movement were: (1) install a lamp on a dark race entrance, (2) move ceiling lamps to eliminate sparkling reflections, (3) muffle air hissing, (4) install shields and solid sides on races to prevent animals from seeing moving people up ahead and (5) eliminate air drafts that blow in the faces of approaching animals. A major remaining problem area is in plants that are not in a program of yearly audits by restaurants. Serious animal abuse has occurred in some of these non-audited plants.

Effect of feed withdrawal and handling intensity on longissimus muscle glycolytic potential and blood measurements in slaughter weight pigs1

This study was carried out to evaluate the effect of feed withdrawal and handling intensity on blood acid-base responses and muscle glycolytic potential in slaughter-weight pigs. Sixty crossbred pigs (BW = 107.7 +/- 0.56 kg; 44 barrows and 16 gilts) were used in a randomized complete block design with a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments: 1) feed withdrawal (0 vs. 24 h), and 2) handling intensity (low vs. high). The high-intensity handling treatment consisted of moving the pigs through a passage (12.2 m long x 0.91 m wide) for eight laps using an electric goad two times per lap. Pigs in the low-intensity handling treatment were moved at their own pace through the passage for eight laps using a livestock panel and paddle. Biopsy samples were collected from the LM at the beginning of feed withdrawal, at the end of the handling procedure, and 4 h after handling. Blood samples were collected 2 h before and immediately after the handling procedure. There were no interactions between feed withdrawal and handling intensity for any of the variables measured. Feed withdrawal decreased (P < 0.05) baseline and posthandling body temperature (38.85 vs. 38.65 degrees C; SEM = 0.060 and 39.70 vs. 39.37 degrees C; SEM = 0.04, respectively) and blood glucose, lowered (P < 0.05) baseline partial pressure of oxygen and partial pressure of carbon dioxide, and increased (P < 0.01) baseline and posthandling plasma free fatty acid concentrations. High-intensity handling produced higher (P < 0.01) posthandling lactate and glucose, and lower (P < 0.01) posthandling blood pH (7.33 vs. 7.18 +/- 0.02, respectively), bicarbonate, base excess, and total carbon dioxide than low-intensity handling. Longissimus muscle glycolytic potential of fasted pigs was lower (P < 0.01) than in fed pigs at the end of the handling procedure (177.2 vs. 137.0 micromol/g of wet tissue; SEM = 10.08, respectively). There was no effect of handling intensity on longissimus muscle glycolytic potential. Feed withdrawal did not attenuate the blood acid-base changes caused by handling; however, the combination of feed withdrawal and handling decreased muscle glycolytic potential.

The welfare of pigs during transport and slaughter.

Abstract To maintain a high standard of animal welfare during the transportation and slaughter of pigs requires both the proper equipment and supervision of employees. The use of numerical scoring of handling and stunning can help maintain high standards because it will enable management to determine whether or not practices are improving or deteriorating. The following variables should be measured: (1) The percentage of pigs stunned correctly, (2) percentage that remain insensible, (3) percentage that are prodded with an electric goad, (4) percentage that fall during handling and (5) percentage vocalizing. For electric stunning, sufficient amperage must be passed through a pig's brain to induce an epileptic seizure. For carbon dioxide, a 90% concentration is recommended. Other gas mixtures are reviewed. Handling facilities must be designed so that pigs move easily without baulking or backing up and have non-slip floors. Research on the following topics is reviewed: electric stunning, carbon dioxide stunning, pig behaviour during handling, return to sensibility, facility design, truck loading, density and transport stress.

The effects of fear of humans and pre-slaughter handling on the meat quality of pigs

This study using 90 commercial pigs examined the relationships between the handling that pigs received immediately prior to slaughter and some measures of their meat quality. A number of significant correlations were found between the number of negative interactions that pigs received from the stockperson and subsequent meat quality of the pigs. For example, the number of highly negative interactions received by the pigs was negatively (P &lt; 0.01) correlated with plasma glucose concentrations post-slaughter and positively correlated (P &lt; 0.05) with both post-slaughter plasma lactate concentrations and the light reflectance of the ham. Most of these highly negative interactions were prods with an electric goad. Both the number of interactions by the pig with the experimenter in a standard test used to assess fear of humans and the time taken by the pig to move along the final route to the stunning area were positively correlated (P &lt; 0.05) with the number of highly negative interactions received by the pig prior to slaughter. Regression analysis revealed that the number of highly negative interactions received by the pig, plasma lactate concentration, and the time to physically interact by the pig with the experimenter in the standard test were significant (P &lt; 0.001) predictors of ham lightness. These variables accounted for 18% of the variance in ham lightness. It is concluded that there are some important associations between the behaviour of the stockperson and the muscle physiology of pigs. Although no significant associations were found between stockperson behaviour and ham pH, the correlations between stockperson behaviour, plasma lactate and glucose, and muscle lightness reflect increased muscle glycogenolysis, presumably associated with increased handling stress prior to slaughter. Such results indicate the opportunity to manipulate the behaviour of stockpeople prior to slaughter to improve meat quality.

Critical points in the transport of cattle to slaughter in Spain that may compromise the animals' welfare

The welfare of cattle depends greatly on the attitudes and training of stockpersons and on the availability of appropriate facilities. Much has been learned about stress during transport, but less...

Low stress pre-slaughter handling: effect of lairage time on the meat quality of pork

The effect of lairage time on meat quality was investigated when crossbred pigs were subjected to low stress pre-slaughter handling, where pigs were treated in mixed groups of 15 from the farm to group CO 2 stunning, and where electric goads were not used at any time. Two experiments were carried out, one in spring ( n=270) using very standardised conditions and one producer, and one in summer ( n=630) using a representative randomly chosen sample of producers. In the first experiment three lairage times were used, less than 30 min (average 26 min), 90 min (average 83 min) and more than 150 min (average 170 min) and no showering. The pH and temperature were measured in the m. longissimus dorsi at various times post mortem, and colour ( L * , a * , b * ), internal reflectance and drip loss the day after slaughter. Sensory evaluation was carried out on 16 randomly chosen samples from the shortest and longest lairage time groups. Drip loss, pH ultimate and internal reflectance were also measured in the m. biceps femoris and pH ultimate and internal reflectance in the m. semimembranosus. Finally, pH ultimate was measured in the m. semispinalis capitis. In the second experiment only two lairage times were used, less than 30 min (average 17 min) and more than 130 min (average 150 min) and with intermittent showering and only a subset of the meat quality measurements were made. Lairage time had no effect on any of the meat quality parameters measured in experiment 1. In experiment 2 the shortest lairage time led to a higher temperature in the m. longissimus dorsi at 2 min post mortem, a higher drip loss in the m. biceps femoris and higher internal reflectance values in both muscles the day after slaughter. The differences were, however, very small and may have been an effect of showering.