Influence of provision of toys during transport and lairage on stress responses and meat quality of pigs

AbstractTransport and accompanying mixing of pigs causes fights among pigs and stress resulting in decreased welfare and reduced meat quality. This study investigates the effect of toys available during transport and lairage on behaviour, stress responses, and meat quality of slaughter pigs. Cross-bred (Piétrain×Hypor) pigs (109·1±10·1 kg) were allocated to one of three treatments during transport and lairage: 1) no toys (control) 2) rubber toys and 3) balls. The rubber toy consisted of two fixed rubber sticks; the plastic ball was filled with pieces of maize, which became available for the pigs in small amounts by manipulating the ball. Per group of 11 pigs, two toys were provided. Totally, divided over 4 replicates, 144 pigs were involved, of which 72 were used for blood sampling and meat quality measurements. Five minutes scans during lairage revealed that treatment did not affect the percentage of pigs that lay (P=0·20), stood (P=0·83) or sat (P=0·12) and that in almost all scans at least one pigs was manipulating a ball, compared with half of the scans in which at least one animal was manipulating a rubber toy (P=0·02). However both toys resulted in a lower incidence of shoulder lesions compared with the control group (P=0·06; 31·1% and 28·9% of the pigs for the rubber toys and balls respectively, versus 51·1% for the control group). Blood sampling at sticking showed that pigs with the balls during transport and lairage tended to have lower cortisol concentrations (P=0·07) than pigs with the rubber toys. Also, a decrease in plasma lactate concentration was observed for these pigs in comparison with the control group (P=0·08), and a higher pH of the m. longissimus dorsi 45 min post mortem for the pigs with the balls was found than for the pigs with the rubber toys (P=0·01). These results indicate that enrichment of compartments during transport and lairage with balls reduced glycolysis in muscle resulting in a lower lactate production and a slower pH decline. The pH 45 min post mortem of the m. biceps femoris and the pH, electrical conductivity, colour, and water-holding capacity of the loin 48 h post mortem were not affected by treatment. In conclusion, environmental enrichment with toys during transport and lairage can decrease shoulder lesions and lower the pH decline 45 min post mortem, especially by provision of plastic balls filled with maize.

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Effect of Diet Supplementation with Quinoa Seed and/or Linseed on Immune Response, Productivity and Meat Quality in Merinos Derived Lambs

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani8110204 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 8 (11) ◽

pp. 204 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Rosaria Marino ◽

Mariangela Caroprese ◽

Giovanni Annicchiarico ◽

Francesco Ciampi ◽

Maria Ciliberti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Immune Response ◽

Meat Quality ◽

Stress Responses ◽

Stressful Events ◽

Control Group ◽

Close Link ◽

Plasma Urea ◽

Strong Relation ◽

And Control

In the last years several studies have investigated the strong relation between nutrition and immune response in the livestock production, particularly in dairy cattle and sheep. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of supplementation based on linseed, quinoa seeds and their combination on welfare, productivity and quality of meat from merinos derived lambs. 32 weaned lambs were divided into 4 experimental groups: quinoa (Q), linseed (LS) and combination of quinoa and linseed (LS + Q) that received the respective supplementation and control group (C) without supplementation. Lambs from all supplemented groups showed lower plasma urea, creatinine and cholesterol than control. Both linseed and quinoa supplementation enhanced the cell-mediated immune responses of lambs, furthermore, linseed supplementation resulted in the lowest level of cortisol secretion after handling, loading and transport. Meat from lambs supplemented with linseed and LS + Q showed the highest pH, at 1 and 3 h post-mortem, while, meat from all supplemented groups was more tender than meat from control. Results indicated that linseed and quinoa seeds supplementation can help the animal to cope with stressful events due to the close link between stress responses and the immune system and for improving meat quality in terms of better tenderness.

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Comparison of meat quality from Naïma and DanBred hybrid sows mated with P-76 boars

Ciência Rural ◽

10.1590/0103-8478cr20200125 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 52 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Andrzej Zybert ◽

Krystian Tarczyński ◽

Halina Sieczkowska ◽

Krzysztof Młynek

Keyword(s):

Comparative Analysis ◽

Meat Quality ◽

Environmental Conditions ◽

Lactate Concentration ◽

Drip Loss ◽

Post Mortem ◽

Technological Quality ◽

Imf Content

ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was the comparative analysis of selected attributes of nutritional and technological quality of pork from Naïma and DanBred gilts mated with P-76 boars. The research was carried on 50 pigs (25 in each group) reared under the same environmental conditions and slaughtered at about 115±5.0 kg. Both analyzed crossbreds populations were characterized by overall good nutritional and technological quality. However the loins from DanBred×P-76 compared with those from Naïma×P-76 had significantly greater glycogen and less lactate concentration in early post mortem period, higher pH at all measurement points (besides no statistical differences in pH measured 2 hours post mortem), lower thermal drip and drip loss measured 96 and 144 hours post mortem and lower lightness (except no differences measured 48 hours post mortem). Additionally loins from DanBred×P-76 contained more protein and less water. No statistical differences in IMF content between both analysed groups were noted (their average values were below 2%). Aforementioned may suggest that crossing both Naïma and DanBred hybrids with P-76 boars may not improve IMF content or increase marbling scores to the levels preferred for culinary purposes.

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The Effects of Environmental Enrichment on the Physiology, Behaviour, Productivity and Meat Quality of Pigs Raised in a Hot Climate

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani9050235 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (5) ◽

pp. 235 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Emma Fàbrega ◽

Míriam Marcet-Rius ◽

Roger Vidal ◽

Damián Escribano ◽

José Joaquín Cerón ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Meat Quality ◽

Environmental Enrichment ◽

Skin Lesions ◽

Control Group ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Hot Climate ◽

Health Performance ◽

Production Conditions ◽

Stimulation Of

Some positive effects regarding the use of enrichment material on the stimulation of pig exploration and a reduction in redirected behaviour was reported. This study aims to evaluate the effects of four enrichment materials on the behaviour, physiology/health, performance and carcass and meat quality in pigs kept in Spanish production conditions. Ninety-six male pigs (six pigs/pen) ranging from 70 to 170 days old were used. Chains were used for the control group (CH), and wooden logs (W), straw in a rack (S) or paper (P) were also used. The pigs were subjected to two pre-slaughter treatments: 0 or 12 h of fasting. Their behaviour was observed for 12 weeks using scan and focal sampling. Samples of the Neutrophil: Lymphocyte (N:L) ratio and lactate were obtained from the pigs at 66 and 170 days old. Saliva samples for Chromogranin-A (CgA) were obtained at 67, 128, 164 and 170 days old. The weight, skin lesions and feed intake of the pigs were recorded. S triggered more exploratory behaviour than W and CH (P < 0.001). Skin lesions and redirected behaviour were lower for pigs with S (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively). The pigs offered S presented lower CgA after no fasting than pigs with P or CH (P = 0.055). Lactate was higher in pigs with W and CH treatments, regardless of fasting (P < 0.05). The N:L ratio increased over time (P < 0.05). No other significant effects were found. Overall, straw in a rack was the enrichment material that enhanced pig inherent behaviour.

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Effect of BioPlus YC Probiotic Supplementation on Gut Microbiota, Production Performance, Carcass and Meat Quality of Pigs

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani11061581 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 1581

Author(s):

Artur Rybarczyk ◽

Elżbieta Bogusławska-Wąs ◽

Alicja Dłubała

Keyword(s):

Bacillus Subtilis ◽

Meat Quality ◽

Bacillus Licheniformis ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Production Performance ◽

Probiotic Bacteria ◽

Control Group ◽

Production Traits ◽

Feed Conversion

The objective of the study was to determine the effects of probiotic bacteria Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus subtilis on microbiological properties of feed mixtures and on the digestive tract content as applicable to production traits and carcass characteristics of fatteners. The experiment was performed on 83,838 fatteners from four successive (insertions) productions in two groups. From the seventy eighth day of age till marketing to the slaughter plant, the pigs were supplied with BioPlus YC probiotic (Chr. Hansen) in the amount of 400 g/t. The preparation contained a complex of probiotic bacteria Bacillus licheniformis DSM 5749, and Bacillus subtilis DSM 5750 spores in a 1:1 ratio. From the fourth insertion, after reaching a body weight of approximately 112 kg, 60 fatteners were selected from each group to measure carcass quality and half of them for meat quality evaluation. Moreover, microbiological analyses in feed and colon were performed. The study showed that BioPlus YC probiotics supplementation resulted in a significantly higher count of B. subtilis and B. licheniformis in the feed, a higher count of B. subtilis, B. licheniformis and LAB, as well as a lower count of Enterobacteriaceae, Enterococcus, Clostridium and Bacillus sp. in the mucosa and in the colorectal content of the test pigs. Our work has shown that supplementation with the BioPlus YC probiotic had a positive effect on the production traits of pigs mainly by reducing mortality (2.83%, p = 0.010), lowering feed conversion ratio—FCR (2.59 kg/kg, p = 0.013), better average daily gain—ADG (0.95 kg/day, p = 0.002) and shorter fattening period (77.25 days, p = 0.019) when compared to the control group (4.19%; 2.79 kg/kg; 0.89 kg/day; 92.8 days, respectively). The addition of the specific Bacillus bacteria did not influence carcass and meat characteristics of the test fatteners.

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Influence of probiotic and prebiotic on meat quality of broiler chicken carcasses

BIO Web of Conferences ◽

10.1051/bioconf/20213204009 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 32 ◽

pp. 04009

Author(s):

Irina Chervonova

Keyword(s):

Meat Quality ◽

Broiler Chickens ◽

Broiler Chicken ◽

First Grade ◽

Control Group ◽

Muscle Weight ◽

The Third ◽

The Impact ◽

Positive Effect

The article presents the results of studying the impact of the spore-forming probiotic “Olin” and the prebiotic “Eсofiltrum” on the meat quality of broiler chicken carcasses of the Ross-308 cross. In the course of the research, it has been found that the inclusion of these preparations in the broiler diet has a positive effect on the studied indicators: the pre-slaughter weight increased by 4.3-5.7%, the weight of the gutted carcass by 4.6-6.2%, the muscle weight 4.8-6.5%, the weight of the loin muscles by 5.7-8.2%. The ratio of edible parts to inedible parts is 4.14 in the third experimental group, 4.08-in the second, and 4.04-in the control. Based on the results of the anatomical cutting of broiler carcasses and according to the fatness indicators the poultry carcasses of the third and second experimental groups, 87.5% and 87.2%, respectively, belong to the first grade, and the yield of the first grade carcasses is 86.2% in the control group. Meat products obtained from both the control poultry and the poultry of both experimental groups has no off-aroma odor and taste, the meat is juicy, tender and aromatic. The products obtained from broiler chickens, whose ration includes the probiotic “Olin” and the prebiotic “Ecofiltrum”, do not have any deviations from the established standards and norms. During the research, it has been found that the use of the studied drugs has a positive effect on the meat quality of poultry carcasses. However, broiler chickens receiving the probiotic “Olin” has more pronounced meat qualities.

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PSVI-1 Improvement of gut morphology and meat quality of broiler chickens by encapsulated citral and cinnamaldehyde

Journal of Animal Science ◽

10.1093/jas/skz258.401 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 97 (Supplement_3) ◽

pp. 195-195

Author(s):

Chongwu Yang ◽

Janghan Choi ◽

Marion Mogire ◽

Argenis Rodas-González ◽

Moussa S Diarra ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Growth Performance ◽

Meat Quality ◽

Ph Value ◽

Basal Diet ◽

Positive Control ◽

Negative Control ◽

Intestinal Morphology ◽

Post Mortem ◽

Gut Morphology

Abstract This study investigated the effects of encapsulated citral (CIT) and cinnamaldehyde (CIN) on growth performance, intestinal morphology and meat quality in broilers. A total of 320 0-day-age male broilers (Cobb 500) were allocated 32 pens with 8 pens per treatment. The treatments included: 1) Corn-wheat-SBM basal diet (negative control); 2) basal diet with 30 ppm avilamycin premix (positive control); 3) basal diet with 50 ppm encapsulated CIT and CIN (CCL); 4) basal diet with 100 ppm encapsulated CIT and CIN (CCH). There were no significant differences between treatments in growth performance (P > 0.05) at each feeding stage. Additionally, birds had similar relative organ weights of heart, liver, spleen and bursa (P > 0.05). The higher ratios of villus height to crypt depth (VCR; P ≤ 0.05) were detected in broilers fed either CCL or CCH, with an average being 14.67 and 15.13 in the duodenum, and 15.13 and 13.58 in the jejunum, respectively. Regarding meat quality, a higher pH value (pH = 6.21) in the breast was observed in 24-h post mortem chickens fed CCL (P ≤ 0.05). No significant differences of pH were detected in the breast in 96-h post mortem birds. The breast color (redness, yellowness, and lightness) in either 24-h or 96-h post mortem chickens was not significantly different among treatments (P > 0.05). No change in purge loss (%) was observed in the breast after 48 h. The severity of white striping (WS) or woody meat (WB) was higher in the positive control (WS = 0.58; WB = 0.15) than in other treatments (P ≤ 0.05). In conclusion, dietary treatment with encapsulated CIT and CIN improved gut morphology and meat quality of broilers by increasing VCR in the small intestine and reducing the severity of WS/WB in the breast, respectively, without affecting growth performance.

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Effect of Amniotic Injection of N-Carbamylglutamate on Meat Quality of Broilers

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani10040576 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. 576

Author(s):

Feng-dong Zhang ◽

Jing Wang ◽

Hai-jun Zhang ◽

Shu-geng Wu ◽

Jing Lin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Antioxidant Capacity ◽

Meat Quality ◽

Pectoral Muscle ◽

Control Group ◽

Saline Injection ◽

In Ovo ◽

Novel Approach ◽

Lactic Acid Content ◽

Injection Control

The current study was performed to determine the influence of amniotic injection of N-carbamylglutamate (NCG) on meat quality of pectoral muscle in broilers. A total of 792 alive broiler embryos at 17 d of incubation were assigned to three treatments randomly (non-injected control, saline-injected control, or NCG-injected treatment). The two injection treatments were an injection with 0.1 mL 0.85% aseptic saline alone or containing 2 mg NCG per egg at 17.5 d of incubation. After hatching, 72 healthy male chicks were selected from each treatment and housed in six pens for a 42 day feeding study. Pectoral muscles from six 42-day-old broilers were collected from each treatment group and were dissected for meat quality assays. The results showed that arginine contents in pectoral muscle in either free or hydrolytic form in the NCG group were higher than those in the non-injection control group (p < 0.05). In comparison to the non-injection or saline-injection control groups, NCG injection resulted in a lower lactic acid content in pectoral muscle (p < 0.05). Muscular antioxidant capacity in the NCG group was higher, as evidenced by the higher activity of catalase and glutathione peroxidase and lower content of malondialdehyde (p < 0.05). In addition, the group of in ovo administration of NCG had decreased drip loss and increased crude fat content in pectoral muscle in comparison to those of either control group (p < 0.05) and had enhanced crude protein content compared to that of the saline-injection control group (p < 0.05). Briefly, these results indicate that amniotic administration of NCG in the late incubation phase increased the arginine content, improved the nutritional properties, enhanced the antioxidant capacity, and improved the meat quality in the pectoral muscle of broilers. Amniotic injection of NCG may serve as a novel approach to improving the meat quality of broilers.

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Effects of Long-Term Gentle Handling on Behavioral Responses, Production Performance, and Meat Quality of Pigs

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani10020330 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 330 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Chao Wang ◽

Yongjie Chen ◽

Yanju Bi ◽

Peng Zhao ◽

Hanqing Sun ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heart Rate ◽

Meat Quality ◽

Average Daily Gain ◽

Production Performance ◽

Control Group ◽

Carcass Quality ◽

Feed Conversion ◽

Significant Difference

In order to investigate the effect of gentle handling on the behavior, performance, and meat quality of pigs from weaning to slaughter, 144 6-week-old weaned hybrid Min piglets (a native breed) were selected and divided into a handling group (HG: 9 pens × 8 pigs) and a control group (CG: 9 pens × 8 pigs). After 6 weeks of handling, we observed and then evaluated the pigs’ responses to a handler with behavioral scores. Moreover, we measured heart rate and production performance. Three pigs were randomly selected from each of the 18 pens and divided into a handling group (HG: n = 27) and a control group (CG: n = 27), and the HG pigs were given gentle handling until slaughter. Subsequently, we evaluated meat quality and the production performance of six pigs from each group. The results show that AA test (approaching–avoidance test) scores in HG pigs, the number of contacts with the handler and absence of contact with the handler, were significantly higher than in the CG pigs (p < 0.01). The occurrences of avoidance and looking at the handler were lower in the HG than in the CG group (p < 0.01); however, heart rate was not found to be significantly different between the two groups (p = 0.63). No significant difference was found in the average daily gain, average daily feed intake, and feed conversion ratio between the two groups during the two periods (p > 0.05). The b* value was determined 45 min after slaughter, and it was significantly lower in the HG than that in the CG group (p = 0.002). Furthermore, 2 h after slaughter, the L value of the HG group was significantly higher than that of the CG group (p = 0.047), but no difference was observed in carcass quality or other meat quality indicators between the two groups (p > 0.05). The results indicate that gentle handling could reduce pigs’ anxiety and increase their willingness to approach the handler, increasing the intimacy of the pigs and handlers. However, long-term gentle handling had little effect on pig performance, carcass quality, and meat quality.

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Effect of dietary supplementation of salts of organic acids on gut morphology and meat quality of broilers

Indian Journal of Animal Research ◽

10.18805/ijar.b-3448 ◽

2017 ◽

Author(s):

Vinus Vinus ◽

M. A. Akbar ◽

B. S. Tewatia ◽

Sushil Kumar

Keyword(s):

Organic Acids ◽

Meat Quality ◽

Control Diet ◽

Feed Additives ◽

Metabolizable Energy ◽

Coliform Bacteria ◽

Control Group ◽

Gut Morphology ◽

Salts Of Organic Acids

The present investigation was conducted to appraise the effect of different levels of salts of organic acids on the gut morphology and meat quality of broilers. A total 300 day-old commercial chicks were randomly divided into 5 treatments. Each treatment consists of 6 replicates having 10 birds per replicate. The control diet was formulated to contain approximately the same metabolizable energy (ME), crude protein and limiting amino acids (methionine and lysine) as per the requirements of birds. The first group (T1) was fed on control diet without any feed additives, while, groups (T2, T3, T4 and T5) were fed on basal diets containing sodium butyrate and calcium propionate @ 0.5% and 1.0% respectively. Six birds from each treatment (1 per replication) were randomly selected for slaughter and collection of samples and microbial study at day 42. Performance of birds in terms of body weight and feed conversion ratio was significantly improved in treated groups. Results showed that in gut morphology, pH was reduced significantly (P less than 0.05) in T3 and T5 (6.24 and 6.22, respectively) as compared to the control group (6.64) while significant improvement was observed in villus height and crypt depth in all treatment groups and were highest in T3 (539.50µm,135.67 µm). Lowest Coliform bacteria (log CFU/g.)was recorded in T3 (16.57) which was significantly differ with the T1 (19.17) and Lactobacilli count was significantly increased in all treatments as compared to control.Supplementation of organic acids reduced meat cholesterol level significantly and lowest was in T5(48.03mg/dL) followed by T3 (48.30mg/dL). Similarly SFA decreased while PUFA content was increased significantly on supplementation of salts as compared to control.

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Hierarchical clustering as a tool to develop a classification scheme for rabbit meat quality

World Rabbit Science ◽

10.4995/wrs.2021.14368 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 29 (3) ◽

pp. 129

Author(s):

A. -S. Larivière-Lajoie ◽

Dancy Cinq-Mars ◽

Frederic Guay ◽

Simon Binggeli ◽

Antoni Dalmau ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Meat Quality ◽

Value Chain ◽

Lactate Concentration ◽

Blood Lactate Concentration ◽

Hierarchical Cluster ◽

Biceps Femoris ◽

Cooking Loss ◽

Time Class ◽

Rabbit Meat

This study aimed to characterise the quality of meat from commercially-raised rabbits. Animals came from five different producers and were laughtered in three different plants under provincial or federal inspection jurisdiction. Animal behaviour evaluated by scan sampling prior to feed withdrawal (FW) and transport, as well as blood lactate concentration at exsanguination, did not raise concerns with respect to stress. Stomach pH was higher (P=0.047) when the FW time was short (≤13.5 h), at a mean value of 2.23. All pH values measured 1 h post-mortem from the Biceps femoris (BF) and almost all (97.6%) from the Longissimus lumborum (LL) were higher than 6. Values for ultimate pH measured 24 h postmortem(pHu) ranged from 5.80 to 6.83 and from 5.70 to 6.70 for BF and LL muscles, respectively. The maximum meat drip loss recorded was 2.6%, while cooking loss reached 30%. Meat lightness (L*) and colour intensity (C*) for the long FW times (≥23 h) were no different from those with short and intermediate (15.5 to 17.3 h) FW times. However, these colour parameters were higher for the short FW time class compared to the intermediate FW time class (P<0.02). A hierarchical cluster analysis based on pHu, cooking loss and lightness (L*) from 200 rabbit loins was performed. Of the four clusters created, clusters 1 and 2 had the best and second-best meat quality, respectively. Clusters 3 and 4 had the lowest meat quality and presented DFD-like (dark, firm and dry) characteristics. Meat did not exhibit PSE-like (pale, soft, exudative) characteristics, even for the slaughter lot with the minimum mean pHu. Of the eight slaughter lots evaluated, more than 50% of the meat from three of them fell into clusters 3 and 4; all three were in the intermediate FW time class. Overall, the quality of rabbit meat analysed was acceptable for commercial use, but rather variable. This suggests that there are factors within the value chain that are not yet fully controlled and require further investigation.

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