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Effects of transport and lairage period in the welfare and meat quality of lamb

Full text
Author(s):
Ana Claudia Koki Sampaio Issakowicz
Total Authors: 1
Document type: Doctoral Thesis
Press: Piracicaba.
Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura (CENA/STB)
Defense date:
Examining board members:
Helder Louvandini; Késia Oliveira da Silva Miranda; Alessandra Fernandes Rosa
Advisor: Helder Louvandini
Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the stress levels and the meat quality from crossbred Santa Inês x Dorper lambs transported in short route (two hours) and long route (six hours) and maintained in two lairage periods (12 or 24 hours). Thirty-two crossbred Dorper x Santa Inês lambs with 127 ± 7 days of age and 30.4 ± 2.1 kg of body weight were used. Before the transport, the animals were allocated in collective pens and received concentrated feed (soy and corn meal, limestone and nucleus with monensin), wet bagasse citrus, Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) and water ad libitum. Reactivity evaluations were performed at loading, unloading and restraint of animals during the blood and urine collection and eye temperature by infrared thermography. During the pre-slaughter period (lairage), behavioral data were collected. Cortisol and haptoglobin serum concentrations and urine cortisol concentrations were measured in periods prior to stunning and at bleeding. The animals had low reactivity for all managements. The lairage periods changed the behavior of lambs (P < 0.05) with animals which have remained for 12 hours showed frequency of behaviors that indicate favorable welfare. The transport period did not affect (P > 0.05) the behavior of animals. The serum cortisol levels remained similar of the output for transport to the end of the lairage period (P > 0.05), while there was oscillation these concentrations in urine (p < 0.05) with peak on unloading in animals transported for two hours and a decrease at the end of the lairage period. The haptoglobin levels were similar between the collection performed before transportation, loading and unloading (P > 0.05) and decreased at the end of pre slaughter lairage (P <0.05). Ocular temperature rose at loading and unloading, with decreasing at the end of lairage period (P <0.05). At slaughter was observed increase of haptoglobin concentrations (P < 0.05), while there was no change in cortisol concentrations in serum (P> 0.05). Animals that remained for 24 hours lairaged before slaughter had higher shear force and lower luminosity (L *) and yellow intensity (b *). Behavioral variables were little affected by transport and lairage periods, but 12 hours of lairage favored the quality of meat (AU)

FAPESP's process: 12/23471-6 - Effects of transport and pre-slaughter waiting periods in the welfare and meat quality of lambs
Grantee:Ana Claudia Koki Sampaio Issakowicz
Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate