Effects of applying preslaughter feed withdrawal at the abattoir on behaviour, blood parameters and meat quality in pigs

To study the effects of starting time of feed withdrawal on behaviour during loading and lairage, and meat quality (pH, colour and drip loss) in pigs, a total of 700 pigs were distributed into two groups. One group (FARM) was fasted for 18 h at the farm before transport and for 6 h before slaughter (including 2 h transport and 4 h lairage), while for the other group (PLANT) fasting time started at the departure from the farm (2 h transport plus 22 h lairage). Total fasting time was 24 h before slaughter for both groups. Fasting treatments did not influence blood parameters. PLANT pigs had longer fights (P < 0.05) than FARM pigs during lairage and produced darker (P = 0.02) and drier (P = 0.03) loins. Based on the results of this study, it may be preferable to commence feed withdrawal at the farm.