Transport of Pigs of Two Market Weights at Two Space Allowances: Effects on Behaviour, Blood Parameters, and Meat Quality under Summer and Winter Conditions
This study was carried out through two separate experiments aiming at evaluating the effects of two space allowances (0.54 and 0.62 m<sup>2</sup>/pig in summer and 0.44 m<sup>2</sup>/pig and 0.50 m<sup>2</sup>/pig in winter) on the behavioural and physiological re...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-08-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/17/2767 |
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| author | Jessica Gonçalves Vero Nicolas Devillers Ana Maria Bridi Kyle A. T. Moak Gizella Aboagye Guilherme Agostinis Ferreira Jansller Luiz Genova Sabine Conte Luigi Faucitano |
| author_facet | Jessica Gonçalves Vero Nicolas Devillers Ana Maria Bridi Kyle A. T. Moak Gizella Aboagye Guilherme Agostinis Ferreira Jansller Luiz Genova Sabine Conte Luigi Faucitano |
| author_sort | Jessica Gonçalves Vero |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study was carried out through two separate experiments aiming at evaluating the effects of two space allowances (0.54 and 0.62 m<sup>2</sup>/pig in summer and 0.44 m<sup>2</sup>/pig and 0.50 m<sup>2</sup>/pig in winter) on the behavioural and physiological response, and meat quality of pigs of two slaughter weights (120 kg and 140 kg). In summer, higher blood haematocrit levels were found at slaughter in heavier pigs transported at a smaller space allowance (<i>p</i> = 0.04). During lairage, pigs transported at a smaller space allowance started fighting later (<i>p</i> = 0.04). Fighting behaviour was greater in heavier pigs (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.05), whilst their drinking activity was lower (<i>p</i> < 0.05). This resulted in greater exsanguination blood CK levels (<i>p</i> < 0.01) and drier hams (<i>p</i> = 0.05) in heavier pigs. In winter, only lower space allowance influenced some meat quality traits (<i>p</i> < 0.05), but these effects were minor. The effects of space allowance during summer transports on within-truck ambient conditions, post-transport pigs’ welfare, and meat quality are similar. Mixing heavier pigs may result in greater aggressiveness and more fatigue-related meat quality variation during summer. Overall, winter transport results may have been biased by the short journey and within-truck load distribution. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T21:58:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7c26aa564785481cbfe48c6a3fa1384f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T21:58:05Z |
| publishDate | 2023-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-7c26aa564785481cbfe48c6a3fa1384f2023-12-19T17:05:51ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152023-08-011317276710.3390/ani13172767Transport of Pigs of Two Market Weights at Two Space Allowances: Effects on Behaviour, Blood Parameters, and Meat Quality under Summer and Winter ConditionsJessica Gonçalves Vero0Nicolas Devillers1Ana Maria Bridi2Kyle A. T. Moak3Gizella Aboagye4Guilherme Agostinis Ferreira5Jansller Luiz Genova6Sabine Conte7Luigi Faucitano8Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Sherbrooke Research and Development Centre, 2000 College Street, Sherbrooke, QC J1M 0C8, CanadaAgriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Sherbrooke Research and Development Centre, 2000 College Street, Sherbrooke, QC J1M 0C8, CanadaDepartamento de Zootecnia, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina 86051-990, BrazilDepartment of Animal Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B4, CanadaEuropean Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Via Carlo Magno 1A, 43126 Parma, ItalyDepartamento de Zootecnia, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina 86051-990, BrazilDepartamento de Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa 36570-900, BrazilAgriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Sherbrooke Research and Development Centre, 2000 College Street, Sherbrooke, QC J1M 0C8, CanadaAgriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Sherbrooke Research and Development Centre, 2000 College Street, Sherbrooke, QC J1M 0C8, CanadaThis study was carried out through two separate experiments aiming at evaluating the effects of two space allowances (0.54 and 0.62 m<sup>2</sup>/pig in summer and 0.44 m<sup>2</sup>/pig and 0.50 m<sup>2</sup>/pig in winter) on the behavioural and physiological response, and meat quality of pigs of two slaughter weights (120 kg and 140 kg). In summer, higher blood haematocrit levels were found at slaughter in heavier pigs transported at a smaller space allowance (<i>p</i> = 0.04). During lairage, pigs transported at a smaller space allowance started fighting later (<i>p</i> = 0.04). Fighting behaviour was greater in heavier pigs (<i>p</i> ≤ 0.05), whilst their drinking activity was lower (<i>p</i> < 0.05). This resulted in greater exsanguination blood CK levels (<i>p</i> < 0.01) and drier hams (<i>p</i> = 0.05) in heavier pigs. In winter, only lower space allowance influenced some meat quality traits (<i>p</i> < 0.05), but these effects were minor. The effects of space allowance during summer transports on within-truck ambient conditions, post-transport pigs’ welfare, and meat quality are similar. Mixing heavier pigs may result in greater aggressiveness and more fatigue-related meat quality variation during summer. Overall, winter transport results may have been biased by the short journey and within-truck load distribution.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/17/2767behaviourmeat qualitypigsslaughter weightspace allowancestress |
| spellingShingle | Jessica Gonçalves Vero Nicolas Devillers Ana Maria Bridi Kyle A. T. Moak Gizella Aboagye Guilherme Agostinis Ferreira Jansller Luiz Genova Sabine Conte Luigi Faucitano Transport of Pigs of Two Market Weights at Two Space Allowances: Effects on Behaviour, Blood Parameters, and Meat Quality under Summer and Winter Conditions Animals behaviour meat quality pigs slaughter weight space allowance stress |
| title | Transport of Pigs of Two Market Weights at Two Space Allowances: Effects on Behaviour, Blood Parameters, and Meat Quality under Summer and Winter Conditions |
| title_full | Transport of Pigs of Two Market Weights at Two Space Allowances: Effects on Behaviour, Blood Parameters, and Meat Quality under Summer and Winter Conditions |
| title_fullStr | Transport of Pigs of Two Market Weights at Two Space Allowances: Effects on Behaviour, Blood Parameters, and Meat Quality under Summer and Winter Conditions |
| title_full_unstemmed | Transport of Pigs of Two Market Weights at Two Space Allowances: Effects on Behaviour, Blood Parameters, and Meat Quality under Summer and Winter Conditions |
| title_short | Transport of Pigs of Two Market Weights at Two Space Allowances: Effects on Behaviour, Blood Parameters, and Meat Quality under Summer and Winter Conditions |
| title_sort | transport of pigs of two market weights at two space allowances effects on behaviour blood parameters and meat quality under summer and winter conditions |
| topic | behaviour meat quality pigs slaughter weight space allowance stress |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/17/2767 |
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