The objective of this study was to assess the efficiency of water sprinkling (WS) hogs inside a stationary trailer in summer, in terms of stress response and pork quality variation. In each of 12 weeks between May and September, 2011, two pot-belly trailers with 208 hogs were transported to the slaughter plant (2 h transport). One of the two trailers was equipped with a water sprinkling system (WS vs. control, C). Blood lactate levels and meat quality traits were assessed on a sub-sample of randomly selected hogs (n=384/576). Exsanguination lactate levels decreased (P=0.02) and pH1 value of the longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle increased (P=0.009) in WS hogs compared to C, regardless of temperature. WS reduced exsanguination lactate levels in pigs transported in the middle front (C5) and rear (C8) compartments at 15°C (P=0.03) and 18°C (P=0.009). In C5, the pH1 value in the LD muscle of WS hogs was higher at 18°C (P=0.002), and 22°C (P<0.001), and drip loss was lower at 22°C (P=0.01), and at 25°C (P=0.02). The results of this study showed that sprinkling hogs in a stationary vehicle at ambient temperatures greater than 20°C can increase animal welfare and improve pork quality.
The effect of water sprinkling on blood lactate and meat quality of market hogs transported during summer
NANNONI, ELEONORA;
2012
Abstract
The objective of this study was to assess the efficiency of water sprinkling (WS) hogs inside a stationary trailer in summer, in terms of stress response and pork quality variation. In each of 12 weeks between May and September, 2011, two pot-belly trailers with 208 hogs were transported to the slaughter plant (2 h transport). One of the two trailers was equipped with a water sprinkling system (WS vs. control, C). Blood lactate levels and meat quality traits were assessed on a sub-sample of randomly selected hogs (n=384/576). Exsanguination lactate levels decreased (P=0.02) and pH1 value of the longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle increased (P=0.009) in WS hogs compared to C, regardless of temperature. WS reduced exsanguination lactate levels in pigs transported in the middle front (C5) and rear (C8) compartments at 15°C (P=0.03) and 18°C (P=0.009). In C5, the pH1 value in the LD muscle of WS hogs was higher at 18°C (P=0.002), and 22°C (P<0.001), and drip loss was lower at 22°C (P=0.01), and at 25°C (P=0.02). The results of this study showed that sprinkling hogs in a stationary vehicle at ambient temperatures greater than 20°C can increase animal welfare and improve pork quality.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
