M. Gispert et al., A survey of pre-slaughter conditions, halothane gene frequency, and carcass and meat quality in five Spanish pig commercial abattoirs, MEAT SCI, 55(1), 2000, pp. 97-106
A total of 116 deliveries, comprising 15,695 commercial pigs delivered to f
ive abattoirs, were surveyed during winter and summer. Information about on
-farm fasting, transport duration and stocking density, and lairage time wa
s collected. Cortisol, creatine phospho-kinase (CPK), and lactate, and DNA
for halothane genotype were analysed in a subsample of pigs at exsanguinati
on in every journey. Electrical conductivity (PQM) in semimembranosus muscl
e (SM) and carcass characteristics (Fat-o-Meater and skin damage) were meas
ured in each carcass. pHu of SM was analysed in the laboratory in a subsamp
le in every journey. Carcasses were identified as PSE or DFD based on PQM a
nd pHu, respectively. The n gene frequency ranged among abattoirs from 54 t
o 8%. Mean lean content was 58.9% for nn, 57.3% for Nn, and 55.8% for NN pi
gs, though a difference of 2.5% lean was observed between two abattoirs wit
h the same n gene frequency. A straight relationship of the incidence of se
rious PSE carcasses and n gene frequency was found. The overall incidence o
f serious PSE and DFD carcasses was 6.5 and 12.5%, respectively. A higher i
ncidence of PSE carcasses was found in summer; in deliveries with < 12 h on
-farm fasting; with transport stocking densities > 0.40 m(2)/100 kg pig; an
d in transports of < 2 h duration. A higher incidence of DFD carcasses was
found in winter; with transport stocking densities < 0.40 m(2)/100 kg pig;
transports of > 2 h duration; and lairage times > 9 h. Cortisol level in bl
ood increased in winter and decreased after 12-18 h fasting time. A rise in
the lactate concentration was observed in pigs transported in high stockin
g density (< 0.40 m(2)/100 kg pig) and for a longer time (> 2 h). All blood
stress indices increase as increasing lairage time. Carcasses with more sk
in damage had higher levels of cortisol, CPK and lactate, and higher incide
nce of DFD meat, compared with non and low skin damage carcasses. (C) 2000
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