title: Effects of lairage time on welfare indicators, energy metabolism and meat quality of pigs in Beijing.
abstract: A total of forty Duroc-Landrace-Large White female pigs (90 ± 5 kg) were used to study the effects of different lairage times (0 h, 3h, 8 h, 24 h) on welfare, energy metabolism and meat quality. The results showed that lairage time of 3h led to a lower blood cortisol, a decreased drip loss and a delayed degradation of glycogen in muscles compared with pigs without rest, while lairage times of 8h and 24h resulted in a significant increase in pork toughness. It was concluded that three hours of lairage was appropriate to reduce pre-slaughter stress and obtain better meat quality for pigs transported for 4h in winter, under the most frequent commercial conditions in Beijing, China. No lairage, or excessively long lairage time, might compromise animal welfare and meat quality.
authors.affiliation: Beijing Higher Institution Engineering Research Center of Animal Product, College of Food Science and Nutritional Engineering, China Agriculture University, Beijing 100083, China.
authors.forename: Shaobo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhen
authors.forename: Yiren
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xingmin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Keshan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ge
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Chun
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Fazheng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ren
mesh_terms: D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods*; D000827:Animal Welfare; D000818:Animals; D002681:China; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000097:blood; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D005260:Female; D063427:Food Quality; D006003:Glycogen / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000097:blood; D008460:Meat / Q000592:standards*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000737:chemistry; D010865:Pilot Projects; D013552:Swine; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D019344:Lactic Acid; D006003:Glycogen; D004492:Edetic Acid; D006854:Hydrocortisone