title: Effects of long distance transportation and CO2 stunning on critical blood values in pigs.
abstract: The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of two stressful stimuli, long transportation and 80% CO(2) stunning on metabolic-physiological variables, hemodynamic and gas exchange in slaughter pigs imported from the U.S. to Mexico City with a journey time of 27 h, with 8 h of lairage at the abattoir. A total of 589 pigs from three genders were monitored. Overall results show that both stimuli caused metabolic and physiological disturbance. Gilts were more efficient in controlling glycemia after a long transport journey (24h), than castrated males (P<0.05), whose glucose was increased above the 30 mg/dL basal level. Females on arrival had 23mg/dL more lactate compared to basal levels (P<0.05). Stunning caused more physiological effects compared to transportation. Regarding the gender factor, females and entire males were more susceptible to transport stress and stunning compared to the castrated pigs, and entire males showed more complications restoring the gas exchange compared to females and barrows.
authors.affiliation: Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Stress Physiology and Farm Animal Welfare, Department of Animal Production and Agriculture, Col. Villa Quietud, México, DF, Mexico. dmota100@yahoo.com.mx
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mota-Rojas
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Becerril-Herrera
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Roldan-Santiago
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alonso-Spilsbury
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Flores-Peinado
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ramírez-Necoechea
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Ramírez-Telles
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mora-Medina
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Molina
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Soní
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Trujillo-Ortega
mesh_terms: D000003:Abattoirs; D000136:Acid-Base Equilibrium; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat; D008800:Mexico; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000737:chemistry; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D013552:Swine / Q000097:blood*; D014186:Transportation; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D019344:Lactic Acid