Abstract |
The objective of these studies (Exp.1, n=76; Exp.2, n=140) was to characterize the relationship of pre-slaughter animal-handling events to exsanguination blood lactate concentration ([LAC]) in a commercial pork processing plant. Pearson correlations indicated relationships (P<0.05) between [LAC] and the number of times a pig jammed, backed up and reared (Exp.1), and [LAC] was correlated (P<0.05) with electric prod use and vocalization in response to prod use in the crowd pen, as well as jamming in the single-file chute (Exp. 2). Single degree of freedom contrasts indicated that pigs experiencing one or more events (i.e., jamming, rearing and/or backing up) while moving through a single-file chute had greater (P<0.03) [LAC] than pigs that did not experience these events in both experiments, whereas pigs prodded in the crowd pen had greater (P=0.03) [LAC] than pigs that were not prodded (Exp. 2). This study provides data demonstrating that specific pre-slaughter animal-handling events are related to post-slaughter [LAC] in a commercial setting.
|
Authors | L N Edwards, T Grandin, T E Engle, S P Porter, M J Ritter, A A Sosnicki, D B Anderson |
Journal | Meat science
(Meat Sci)
Vol. 86
Issue 2
Pg. 384-90
(Oct 2010)
ISSN: 1873-4138 [Electronic] England |
PMID | 20566249
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
|
Copyright | Published by Elsevier Ltd. |
Chemical References |
|
Topics |
- Abattoirs
- Animal Welfare
- Animals
- Behavior, Animal
- Food Handling
(methods, standards)
- Lactic Acid
(blood)
- Meat
- Stress, Physiological
- Swine
(blood, physiology, psychology)
|