title: Effect of sex and time to slaughter (transportation and lairage duration) on the levels of cortisol, creatine kinase and subsequent relationship with pork quality.
abstract: The study determined the effect of sex and time to slaughter on cortisol and creatine kinase levels, and pork quality in commercial crossbred pigs. Saliva samples were before collected transportation, on arrival at the abattoir, and after a 20 hour lairage period. Cortisol levels from saliva (SC), serum (SeC) and urine (UC) were determined. Creatine kinase (CK) levels were determined from serum samples. Fifteen boars vs. 15 gilts were immediately slaughtered on arrival (SOA), and the other 15 boars vs. 15 gilts were rested for 20 h before slaughter. Meat quality parameters were also determined. In both sexes, SC significantly increased in response to time to slaughter. There was a significant interaction of sex and time to slaughter on SeC. Gilts had higher CK levels and lower muscle L* values than boars. There were correlations among baseline SC, SeC, UC and most meat quality parameters. Time to slaughter influenced levels of SC, UC, CK and pork quality between boars and gilts.
authors: University of Fort Hare, Department of Livestock and Pasture Science, P/Bag X1314, Alice 5700, South Africa.
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Jama
authors: University of Fort Hare, Department of Livestock and Pasture Science, P/Bag X1314, Alice 5700, South Africa.
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Maphosa
authors: Stellenbosch University, Department of Animal Sciences, P/Bag X1, Matieland 7602, South Africa.
authors: L C
authors: LC
authors: Hoffman
authors: University of Fort Hare, Department of Livestock and Pasture Science, P/Bag X1314, Alice 5700, South Africa. Electronic address: vmuchenje@ufh.ac.za.
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Muchenje
mesh_terms: D000003:Abattoirs; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000818:Animals; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood* / Q000737:chemistry; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat / Q000592:standards*; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry; D012737:Sex Factors; D013312:Stress, Physiological; D013552:Swine; D013997:Time Factors; D014186:Transportation
chemical_list: D003402:Creatine Kinase; D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: Creatine kinase; Meat quality; Pre-slaughter stress; Saliva cortisol; Serum cortisol; Urine cortisol