title: Improvement of meat quality in pigs by beta-adrenergic blockade.
abstract: The value of giving pigs the beta-adrenergic blocking drug carazolol preslaughter to improve meat quality was tested in a stress-resistant breed (Large White) and a stress-susceptible breed (Pietrain). Pigs averaging about 70kg liveweight were injected intramuscularly (1 mg per 100 kg liveweight) 0·5h before being transported to the slaughterhouse. The journey lasted 4 h and covered about 150 km and the pigs were slaughtered after 1 h in lairage. Treatment with carazolol reduced the incidence of PSE meat and considerably improved meat quality in the stress-susceptible Pietrain breed but had little effect in the stress-resistant Large Whites which produced good meat quality in both control and treated groups.
authors: ARC Meat Research Institute, Langford, Bristol BS18 7DY, Great Britain.
authors: P D
authors: PD
authors: Warriss
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Lister