EVALUATION OF THE EFFECT OF LIVE HAULAGE ON METABOLITES AND FILLET TEXTURE OF RAINBOW-TROUT (ONCORHYNCHUS-MYKISS)

Changes in metabolites and meat texture of pan-sized live rainbow trou t (Oncorhynchus mykiss), were examined following commercial, internati onal road haulage. Significant (P < 0.001) increases in water, NH4+ an d pH were detected during haulage. Transportation decreased (P < 0.05) dark muscle glycogen and L-lactate. Textural parameters, including ha rdness, elasticity, and breakpoint of the raw fillet, were unaffected by the haulage process. Muscle pH increased (P < 0.05) both in fish ex posed to starvation and transportation when compared to reference fish , The results obtained indicate that haulage has limited effects upon fish flesh quality.