Effect of transport time on welfare and meat quality in pigs.

Perez, M P ; Palacio, J ; Santolaria, M P (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Aceña, M C (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Chacon, G ; Gascon, M (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Calvo, J H ; Zaragoza, P (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Beltran, J A (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Garcia Belenguer, S. (Universidad de Zaragoza)

Resumen: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of transport duration on some welfare and meat quality parameters. For the study 144 pigs were used. One group of 72 animals was subjected to 15 min and the others to 3 h transport time. Blood from all animals was analysed in order to detect stress-susceptible pigs and assess pre-slaughter stress. Meat quality parameters were analysed from Longissimus thoracis and Semimembranosus muscles. It was concluded that under normal Spanish commercial conditions, pigs subjected to short transport showed a more intense stress response and poorer meat quality than pigs subjected to moderately long transport when they were immediately slaughtered on arrival at the slaughterhouse. Transport of 3 h might have allowed the animals to adapt to transport conditions and then could act as a resting period like a lairage time. The effect of transport time on welfare and meat quality parameters was more important than genotype and sex. Nevertheless, from the point of view of blood enzyme activities, genetically stress susceptible females transported for 3 h were more sensitive to muscle damage.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.1016/S0309-1740(01)00216-9

Año: 2002

Publicado en: Meat Science 61, 4 (2002), 425-433
ISSN: 0309-1740

Factor impacto JCR: 1.252 (2002)

Categ. JCR: FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY rank: 18 / 92 = 0.196 (2002) - Q1 - T1

Tipo y forma: Article (Published version)

Área (Departamento): Área Genética (Dpto. Anatom.,Embri.Genét.Ani.)
Área (Departamento): Área Producción Animal (Dpto. Produc.Animal Cienc.Ali.)
Área (Departamento): Área Medicina y Cirugía Animal (Dpto. Patología Animal)
Área (Departamento): Área Tecnología de Alimentos (Dpto. Produc.Animal Cienc.Ali.)