Risk factors and prevalence of carcass lesions associated with pre-slaughter logistics and ultimate meat pH in finishing pigs under mountainous tropical conditions

Pastrana-Camacho, Adriana P. ; Miranda-de la Lama, Genaro C. ; Huanca-Marca, Nancy F. ; Estévez-Moreno, Laura X. (Universidad de Zaragoza)

Resumen: Globally, the pre-slaughter logistics chain in the pork industry must meet commercial demands while operating through interconnected nodes, from the farm of origin to transport and abattoir operations. The present study evaluated 1841 carcasses of finishing pigs at abattoir level, assessing six anatomical regions for skin lesions, tail injuries and claw cracks, along with ultimate pH and detailed pre-slaughter logistics. Skin lesions were highly prevalent, exceeding 97% of carcasses, with severe damage in 8% and consistent patterns in the neck–shoulder, flank and loin regions. Multivariate models showed that lesion risk depended on the production system, road quality, journey dynamics and lairage duration. Tail lesions were rare (<10%), while claw cracks (∼20%) were associated with farm size, carcass weight and transport conditions. Meat quality was strongly influenced by logistics, with 7% of carcasses classified as PSE, 27% as DFD and 34% as borderline DFD. DFD was related to long and fast journeys on paved mountain routes, whereas PSE was linked to injuries in the head–ear region. Overall, carcass-based indicators provided an integrated retrospective assessment of welfare in tropical mountain systems, where transport demands and infrastructure variability influence both welfare and meat quality.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2026.110051

Año: 2026

Publicado en: Meat Science 235 (2026), 110051 [11 pp.]
ISSN: 0309-1740

Tipo y forma: Article (Published version)

Área (Departamento): Área Econom.Sociol.Polit.Agra. (Dpto. CC.Agrar.y Medio Natural)