title: The effects of halothane sensitivity on carcass composition and meat quality in HAL-1843-normal pigs.
abstract: Objectives of this study were to determine the incidence of halothane sensitivity in pigs that are homozygous normal at the ryanodine receptor nucleotide 1843 (HAL-1843-normal) and the relationships between halothane sensitivity and carcass composition or meat quality. In Exp. 1, piglets (Lines A, B, C, and D; n = 168, 170, 168, and 169, respectively) were obtained from mating a HAL-1843-normal sire line to four HAL-1843-normal dam lines. In Exp. 2, piglets from Lines A and B (n = 87 and 90, respectively) were included with piglets (Lines E, F, G, and H; n = 94, 92, 89, and 89, respectively) obtained from mating four HAL-1843-normal sire lines to a single HAL-1843-normal dam line. Pigs were subjected to 3% halothane at approximately 9 wk of age. In Exp. 1, limb rigidity, blotching of the skin, and muscle tremors were visually assessed, and based on these criteria, halothane sensitivity (HS) was observed in 48% of the pigs. To better characterize this response, a scoring system was developed and used in Exp. 2. Using this system, 25, 42, and 33% of the pigs in E and 40, 33, and 27% of the pigs in Line G were categorized as HS-low (HS-L), HS-intermediate (HS-I), and HS-high (HS-H), respectively. In Lines F and H, 13 and 18% of the pigs were HS-I, and 0 and 2% were HS-H, respectively. No consistent effects due to HS were observed in carcass composition or meat quality; however, when a subset of pigs from Exp. 2 were subjected to more extensive handling and transportation before slaughter, ultimate pH was lower and drip loss was higher in LM from HS-H compared with HS-L pigs (P < 0.05; n = 71). These results demonstrate that some pigs are sensitive to halothane anesthesia even in the absence of the known HAL-1843 polymorphism. Additionally, halothane sensitivity may be associated with inferior pork quality under adverse antemortem conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48824, USA.
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Allison
authors.forename: R C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Doumit
mesh_terms: D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000818:Animals; D001823:Body Composition / Q000235:genetics; D001947:Breeding; D005260:Female; D006221:Halothane / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006234:Handling, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat / Q000592:standards*; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D006221:Halothane