Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
2454416 | The Professional Animal Scientist | 2008 | 11 Pages |
Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of on-farm handling intensity (conventional vs. passive), transport stocking density: (high vs. low), and preslaughter lairage time (45 min vs. 3 h) on digestive tract temperature, serum cortisol concentrations, and pork quality of market pigs slaughtered in November (NOV; n = 111), February (FEB; n = 113), and August (AUG; n = 112). Pigs slaughtered in FEB had greater (P ⤠0.027) digestive tract temperatures before loadout than pigs slaughtered in NOV or AUG. The digestive tract temperature of pigs slaughtered in AUG was greater (P ⤠0.027) during than before loadout. Pigs afforded 3 h of lairage tended to have greater (P = 0.068) digestive tract temperatures than pigs given 45 min of lairage. When pigs were slaughtered in AUG and NOV, those afforded 3 h of lairage had greater (P = 0.042) cortisol concentrations than pigs given only 45 min of lairage. Carcasses of pigs slaughtered in AUG had a paler (P ⤠0.032) LM than carcasses of pigs slaughtered in NOV and FEB, and greater (P ⤠0.032) LM purge losses than pigs slaughtered in FEB. Pigs given a 45 min lairage had greater (P = 0.036) 30-h LM pH values, darker LM (P = 0.008), greater (P = 0.012) subjective color scores, and tended (P = 0.069) to have lower purge loss percentages than pigs given a 3-h lairage. Results indicated that pigs should have less than 3 h of lairage when the day\s low ambient temperature is ⤠22°C to decrease antemortem stress and improve lean quality.
Keywords
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Authors
C.C. Carr, D.J. Newman, G.K. Rentfrow, D.H. Keisler, E.P. Berg,