Effects of different moving devices at loading on stress response and meat quality in pigs.
Summary of "Effects of different moving devices at loading on stress response and meat quality in pigs."
Although there is increasing evidence regarding the negative welfare and meat quality implications of electric prod use for slaughter weight pigs, this handling tool continues to be used. Therefore, the behavioral and physiological response, carcass and meat quality of 360 pigs being loaded onto a truck for transportation to slaughter according to 3 handling procedures were studied. The 3 handling procedures were: 1) moving with an electric prod and board from the finishing pen to the truck (EP); 2) moving with a board and a paddle from the finishing pen to the truck (PAD); 3) moving with a board and a paddle from the finishing pen and using a compressed air prod in the ramp before going into the truck (CAP). A sub-population of 144 pigs (48 pigs/treatment) was equipped with heart rate monitors. Blood samples were collected from the same animals at exsanguination for the analysis of creatine phospho-kinase and lactate. Data were analyzed using an ANOVA for factorial design, with the animal as the experimental unit. Behavior was analyzed with Mixed model procedure with treatment as a fixed effect. During loading, EP pigs slipped and fell (P < 0.001), and overlapped (P = 0.03) more often, but stopped (P < 0.001) and attempted turns (P = 0.01) less often than CAP or PAD. With CAP, pigs made more 180 masculine turns (P = 0.01) than with PAD or EP. Loading with EP led to more and longer vocalizations (P = 0.02 and P = 0.001, respectively) than loading with CAP or PAD. Loading took longest with CAP and was quickest with EP (P = 0.01). Pigs handled with EP had a higher heart rate than those moved with PAD and CAP at loading (P < 0.001), wait at loading (P < 0.001), at unloading (P = 0.05) and in lairage (P = 0.02). Pigs loaded with EP had higher (P = 0.05) lactate concentrations in blood at exsanguination compared to pigs handled with CAP, with pigs loaded with PAD being intermediate. Furthermore, ultimate pHu (pHu) values in the Semimembranosus and Adductor muscles of EP pigs were higher (P = 0.002 and P = 0.004, respectively) compared to those from PAD and CAP pigs. Higher (P = 0.04) incidence of blood-splashed hams was found in EP pigs compared to PAD and CAP pigs. Therefore, considering animal welfare, carcass bruising, and blood splashes standpoints, EP should be replaced with PAD or CAP. However, additional research is necessary to identify methods that improve the loading efficiencies of PAD and CAP without adversely affecting animal welfare parameters.
Affiliation
F. Ménard Inc., Ange Gardien, QC, J0E 1E0, Canada.
Journal Details
This article was published in the following journal.
Name: Journal of animal science
ISSN: 1525-3163
Pages:
Links
- PubMed Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20802143
- DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.2527/jas.2010-2833
Medical and Biotech [MESH] Definitions
Weightlessness Countermeasures
Techniques and routines designed to prevent or reverse unwanted effects of weightlessness experienced during actual and simulated space flight, including physiologic changes related to removal of gravitational loading. Specific measures include creation of artificial gravity, exercise, low-level lower body negative pressure, and use of anti-deconditioning devices. (From Nicogossian, Space Physiology and Medicine, 2d ed, pp294-297)
Tert-butylhydroperoxide
A direct-acting oxidative stress-inducing agent used to examine the effects of oxidant stress on Ca(2+)-dependent signal transduction in vascular endothelial cells. It is also used as a catalyst in polymerization reactions and to introduce peroxy groups into organic molecules.
Meat-packing Industry
The aggregate enterprise of technically producing packaged meat.
Stress Disorders, Traumatic, Acute
A class of traumatic stress disorders that is characterized by the significant dissociative states seen immediately after overwhelming trauma. By definition it cannot last longer than 1 month, if it persists, a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (STRESS DISORDERS, POST-TRAUMATIC) is more appropriate.
Relaxation
Activity which reduces the feelings of tension and the effects of STRESS, PHYSIOLOGICAL.
PubMed Articles
The advent of implantable blood-recirculating devices such as left ventricular assist devices and prosthetic heart valves provides a viable therapy for patients with end-stage heart failure and valvul...
BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES:Epidemiological evidence is suggestive, but inconclusive, for an association between consumption of red and processed meat and risk of stroke. We aimed to assess this association...
Nitric oxide and quality and safety of muscle based foods.
Preservation of meat with nitrite or nitrate has become important to mankind in controlling meat spoilage and in producing safe and palatable meat products with good keeping properties even at ambient...
Intracerebral microdialysis in conjunction with a highly sensitive radioimmunoassay was used to study the in vivo release of neuropeptide S (NPS) within the amygdala of freely moving rats. NPS was con...
Clinical Trials
The purpose of this study is to evaluate the acute, postprandial effects and mechanism of action of various walnut components (separated nut skins, de-fatted nut meat, nut oil) versus whol...
The Protein (Meat) and Function Study
The aim of the proposed study is to investigate the effects of different amounts of protein intake primarily from meat on muscle function, immune response, mental function, proteomics, bio...
Examining the Effects of CXB722 in Neuroendocrine Stress Response in Healthy Males
The purpose of this study is to assess the effects of CXB722 on neuroendocrine stress response and subjective reports related to mood and stress during and after experimentally induced str...
Processed Meat and Colon Carcinogenesis
Colorectal cancer kills forty five people in France every day. Epidemiological studies suggest that two cases out of three could be prevented and show that processed meat intake is a consi...
We are looking at the effects of Stress Management and Relaxation Response training on stress hormones (like adrenalin and cortisol), immune function and physiology (heart rate, breathing...
