Behavioural and physiological responses of pigs to being transported for up to 24 hours followed by six hours recovery in lairage

Ninety-six pure-bred Large white pigs weighing 80 to 100 kg were either not transported or transported for eight, 16 or 24 hours, and then either slau ghtered immediately on arrival at the abattoir or kept in lairage for six h ours before being slaughtered. The pigs travelling for eight, 16 or 24 hour s lost 2.2, 2.0 and 4.3 per cent of liveweight, respectively, and the pig t ravelling for 24 hours lost 2.6 per cent of hot carcase weight Both livewei ght and hot carcase weight recovered during the lairage period although the re was a net liveweight loss in comparison with the control animals. Only t ransport for 24 hours led to losses in carcase weight The concentration of non-esterified fatty acids increased with the time spent travelling. The co ncentrations of cortisol, creatine phosphokinase and lactate were all low i n comparison with the levels found in commercially slaughtered animals. Pla sma albumin and protein concentrations indicated that the animals were beco ming dehydrated during the longer journeys. The animals lay down for most o f the journey and appeared to be asleep. During the period in lairage the a nimals transported for eight hours had two distinct periods of feeding and drinking but spent most of the time lying down, but those transported for 1 6 and 24 hours showed far more eating and drinking activity AII the groups appeared tired, but the urge to eat of the groups transported for 16 hours, and especially 24 hours appeared to be more important. There were behaviou ral and the physiological differences between the transported groups and th e controls. Six hours in lairage with access to food and water allowed most of the physiological parameters to return to pretransport levels.