title: Effects of transport distance, lairage time and stunning efficiency on cortisol, glucose, HSPA1A and how they relate with meat quality in cattle.
abstract: This study determined the effects of distance travelled, lairage duration and number of stunning shots on the plasma levels of bovine heat shock protein 70 (HSPA1A), cortisol (CORT) and glucose (GLU) and their relationship with beef quality. There were positive correlations among HSPA1A, GLU, CORT, a*, b* and the HUE angle. Animals that were stunned more than once had the highest HSPA1A (13.61±2.874ng/ml) and CORT (109.36±8.373nmol/L) levels. Animals that travelled for 200<400km had lower HSPA1A expression (8.29±2.026ng/ml) than those that were transported for 400<800km (12.11±2.548ng/ml) and <200km (17.32±2.362ng/ml). Lairage duration affected (P<0.05) the expression of HSPA1A, GLU and CORT levels. Animals stunned more than once had elevated CORT and HSPA1A levels. HSPA1A, CORT and GLU were related to beef quality. Stunning of animals more than once increased the levels of blood CORT and HSPA1A.
authors.affiliation: Department of Livestock and Pasture Science, Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of Fort Hare, P. Bag X1314, Alice 5700, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.
authors.forename: A Y
authors.initials: AY
authors.lastname: Chulayo
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of Fort Hare, P. Bag X1314, Alice 5700, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bradley
authors.affiliation: Department of Livestock and Pasture Science, Faculty of Science and Agriculture, University of Fort Hare, P. Bag X1314, Alice 5700, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. Electronic address: vmuchenje@ufh.ac.za.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Muchenje
mesh_terms: D000003:Abattoirs; D000822:Animal Husbandry; D000827:Animal Welfare; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose; D002417:Cattle / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins / Q000097:blood*; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat / Q000592:standards*; D014186:Transportation
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D018840:HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins; D006854:Hydrocortisone
keywords: Distance travelled; Glycogen; HSPA1A; Lairage duration; Ultimate pH