title: Influence of lairage time on some welfare and meat quality parameters in pigs.
abstract: A total of 150 Large White cross Landrace pigs (110-120 kg) of both sexes were used to investigate the effects of three different lairage times (0 h, 3 h, 9 h). Blood samples were collected at exanguination and cortisol, glucose, lactate, muscle enzymes and haematological parameters were determined. Post-mortem measurements of muscle pH were taken at 20 min, 2 h and 24 h from Longissimus thoracis and Semimembranosus. Lairage time showed a significant effect on pH24, internal muscle reflectance using the fibre optic probe (FOP24), red blood cells, neutrophils and lymphocytes, glucose and enzymatic activities. Changes in blood profile and meat quality parameters indicated that three hours of lairage in Spanish commercial conditions may reduce the amount of stress exhibited by pigs at slaughter and better meat quality can be obtained. No lairage or an excessively long lairage period without food may compromise animal welfare and meat quality.
authors.affiliation: Veterinario de Administración Sanitaria, DGA, Huesca, Spain.
authors.forename: María Pilar
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Palacio
authors.forename: Maria Pilar
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Santolaria
authors.forename: Maria Carmen
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: del Aceña
authors.forename: Gema
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chacón
authors.forename: Maria Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Verde
authors.forename: Jorge Hugo
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Calvo
authors.forename: Maria Pilar
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Zaragoza
authors.forename: Manuel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gascón
authors.forename: Sylvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: García-Belenguer
mesh_terms: D000003:Abattoirs; D000827:Animal Welfare; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D005260:Female; D005508:Food Deprivation / Q000502:physiology; D005838:Genotype; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007773:Lactates / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat / Q000592:standards*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology*; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D013552:Swine / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007773:Lactates; D006854:Hydrocortisone