HORMONAL AND METABOLIC RESPONSES TO THE STRESS OF TRANSPORT AND SLAUGHTERHOUSE PROCEDURES IN CLENBUTEROL-FED PIGS

The aim of this study was to evaluate if metabolic and endocrine adapt ive responses to stressful stimuli are influenced by clenbuterol treat ment in pigs. Two groups of nine Goland barrows of 167 kg liveweight, fed diets containing 0 (control) or 1 ppm of clenbuterol (clenbuterol- treated) for 40 days, were used. Blood samples were collected by jugul ar venipuncture the day before (day 40) and at slaughter (day 41). On day 40 clenbuterol-treated pigs had lower levels of thyroxin, tri-iodo thyronine, insulin, urea and higher levels of lactate and creatine pho sphokinase activity. On day 41, thyroxin concentration was lower and c reatine phosphokinase activity higher in clenbuterol-treated pigs than in controls. In response to transport and slaughterhouse procedures, most of the parameters considered both in clenbuterol-treated and in c ontrol pigs increased.