209 The Effect of Waiting Time at the Lairage of Slaughterhouse of Holstein Bulls After a Short Transport on Animal Behavior, Carcass Quality and Meat Quality

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of waiting time at the lairage before slaughter in Holstein bulls after a short transport. Half of the bulls of each transport (n = 8 transports; n = 48 ± 4 bulls/transport) were distributed in two treatments: short waiting time (SWT; < 2h; n = 200) and long waiting time (LWT; from 4 to 8h; n = 184). Behavior of LWT animals was observed with a 15 min scan sampling at the lairage pens. Hot carcass weight (HCW), conformation, fatness and pH in Longissimus dorsi (LD) at the 4th-5th lumbar vertebra between 30 and 36 h postmortem was registered. A caudal section of LD was collected for meat quality evaluation in a subset of 24 animals selected based on HCW and meat pH. Each loin was cut in 5 slices, one to determine instrumental color after 30 min blooming, and the others were disposed to evaluate microbiology (1, 5, 8 and 12 d) and color stability (1 to 12 d). Data were analyzed using mixed models with repeated measures. The percentage of animals standing with LWT treatment decreased (P < 0.001) with waiting time (100% and 64%, 1 h and 6 h, respectively). Meat pH was greater (P < 0.01) for SWT (5.6 ± 0.02) compared with LWT (5.5 ± 0.02); however, the percentage of carcass classified as DFD (pH > 5.7) did not differ between treatments. Lightness (L*) was greater (P < 0.05) for SWT (29.7 ± 0.47) compared with LWT (28.1 ± 0.49). Moreover, on day 12 color stability and enterobacteria count evolved differently (P = 0.09) between treatments. Waiting time below 2 h might impair meat quality as animals might not be able to recover from transport.

Long-Distance Transport of Finisher Pigs in the Iberian Peninsula: Effects of Season on Thermal and Enthalpy Conditions, Welfare Indicators and Meat pH

Current legislation in the European Union places limits on live pig transport according to outside temperature, but less is known about the effects of sudden changes in the thermal microenvironment in trailers, particularly during long-distance transport. In this study, we measured the temperature and relative humidity inside livestock vehicles carrying 1920 Spanish finisher pigs (live weight 100 kg and 240 animals per journey) during eight long-distance (>15 h) commercial journeys to slaughter from northern Spain to Portugal in the summer and winter. Here, we report the rate of change in the air temperature (°C × min−1) and air enthalpies in the transport vehicle (kg water kg dry air-1). At sticking, blood samples were taken for to measure cortisol, glucose, and creatine kinase (CK) as stress response indicators, and the meat pH after 45 min and the pH after 24 h were also determined. The rate of change in the air temperature and enthalpy was higher inside the livestock vehicle during the winter months and was positively related with higher cortisol and glucose levels and lower pH after 45 min (p < 0.05). It is proposed that the rate of temperature change and air enthalpy represent useful integrated indices of thermal stress for pigs during transport.

Evaluasi karkas dan kualitas fisik daging babi pada tempat usaha pemotonggan ternak babi di Distrik Masni Kabupaten Manokwari

This study aims to evaluate the carcass and examine the physical quality of pork in the local pork slaughterhouse, Masni District and the relationship between slaughter weight and carcass weight, carcass percentage, carcass length, fat, pH and cooking losses. The results showed the range of slaughtering age of local pigs from 6 - 60 months (male pigs 10-12 months old and female pigs 18-20 months old). The average sliced ​​weight had a very significant effect (P <0.01) on carcass weight, while the carcass percentage had no significant effect based on the regression analysis between cut weight and carcass percentage was Y = 63.85 + 0.1463, with a coefficient of determination (R2) of 9.43%. Cut weight had a very significant effect (P <0.01) on carcass length in regression analysis Y = 37.42 + 0.3722, with a coefficient of determination (R2) of 71.48%). The regression analysis between cut weight and back fat thickness was Y = 0.322 + 0.04044, with a coefficient of determination (R2) of 39.87%, which means that cutting weight has a very significant effect (P <0.01) on the thickness of back fat, while the regression analysis of the relationship between cut weight and pH Local pork is Y = 6.357 - 0.00362, with a coefficient of determination (R2) of 5.54% that the slaughter weight has no significant effect (P> 0.05) on meat pH. Cut weight has no significant effect (P> 0.05) on cooking loss based on regression analysis is Y = 30.12 - 0.1106 with a coefficient of determination (R2) 9.63%. The results showed that cut weight has a close relationship with carcass weight, carcass length, and fat thickness but not to carcass percentage, meat pH and cooking loss.

The Physical Quality of Broiler Chicken Meat Given Basal Ration Containing Avocado Seed Flour (Persea Americana Mill)

P Americana Mill contains some phytochemicals such as phenols, saponins, and flavonoids which have beneficial effect on meat quality of broiler chicken. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of inclusion of avocado seed flour (ASF) in basal diet on meat quality of broiler chickens. A total of 80 broiler chicks of Cobb- strain were randomly assigned with following treatments: T0 (basal ration without ASF as the control), T1 (inclusion of 5% ASF in l diet), T2 (inclusion of 10% ASF in diet) and T3 (inclusion of 15% ASF in diet) and were kept for 5 weeks. The parameters measured were meat pH, cooking loses after slaughtering and water holding capacity. The completely randomized design was used in this experiment with 4 treatments and 5 replicates. The result showed that the inclusion of ASF significantly (P<0.01) decreased the meat pH and cooking loses after slaughtering but significantly increased (P>0.01) water holding capacity. It is concluded that the best level inclusion of ASF in broiler diet in order to improve the physical quality of broiler’s meat is 15%.

Whole-genome sequencing association analysis reveals the genetic architecture of meat quality traits in Chinese Qingyu pigs

The Chinese Qingyu pig breed is an invaluable indigenous genetic resource. However, few studies have investigated the genetic architecture of meat quality traits in Qingyu pigs. Here, 30 purebred Qingyu pigs were subjected to whole-genome sequencing. After quality control, 18 436 759 SNPs were retained. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) were then performed for meat pH and color at three postmortem time points (45 min, 24 h, and 48 h) using single-marker regression analysis. In total, 11 and 69 SNPs were associated with meat pH and color of the longissimus thoracis muscle (LTM), respectively, while 54 and 29 SNPs were associated with meat pH and color of the semimembranosus muscle (SM), respectively. Seven SNPs associated with pork pH were shared by all three postmortem time points. Several candidate genes for meat traits were identified, including four genes (CXXC5, RYR3, BNIP3, and MYCT1) related to skeletal muscle development, regulation of Ca2+ release in the muscle, and anaerobic respiration, which are promising candidates for selecting superior meat quality traits in Qingyu pigs. To our knowledge, this is the first study investigating the postmortem genetic architecture of pork pH and color in Qingyu pigs. Our findings further the current understanding of the genetic factors influencing meat quality.

Effect of sex and age on beef cattle meat pH

Aim. The aim of the study was to explain the difference of pH values in heifer and bull meat and to carry out an analysis of the effect of age in groups of both sexes. Methods. The study contains data on 2,469 beef breed and their crossbreed cattle fattened on farms in Latvia and Lithuania, slaughtered in a certifi ed Lithuanian slaughterhouse ʻAgaras’ in 2018. For the assessment of the effect of sex, the beef cattle were divided into 2 study groups: 1,266 bulls and 1,203 heifers. 3 study groups were created for analysis of the effect of age: 12 – 17 months; 18 – 23 months; 24 and more months. Analysis of the data acquired was based on the indicators of descriptive statistics. T–test and Pearson correlation analysis were used. Results. The average pH in the meat of bulls was 5.87 ± 0.011, but in the meat obtained from heifers – 5.66 ± 0.005 (p ≤ 0.05). Within the desired pH value from 5.4 to 5.8, the group of bulls comprised 65 % of carcasses and the group of heifers – 86 % of carcasses. In the group of bulls, 35 % of carcasses had an increased pH in the meat (pH –≥ 5.9), while in the heifers’group – 13%. For a small part of the carcasses in both study groups, too low pH was found in meat (pH ≤ 5.3), with 1% in the group of bulls and 0.4% in the group of heifers. An analysis of the effect of age found no signifi cant differences in pH values between bulls of different ages. In the heifers’study group, the highest pH in meat was found in the group above 24 months of age, pH–5.69. Correlation analysis between the meat pH and the slaughter results showed a weak or non–existent relationship. In the overall study group, stronger correlation was observed between pH and fat score (r = –0.21, p < 0.05). Conclusions. The results indicate that meat from heifers is better quality in terms of desired pH. Meat with the desired pH can be used in the production of high-quality products that provide higher profi ts.

Effects of Divergently Selected Broiler Lines for Meat Color on Pseudomonas Growth Under Simulated Retail Display

ObjectivesSelection of broilers based on L* values have affected the meat pH of broiler breast meat. The objective is to determine if the selection of L* values have affected Pseudomonas ssp. growth under simulated retail display.Materials and MethodsBroilers from the 13th generation of three different lines (n = 30/line) selected for high L* (HMC), low L* (LMC) and a random bred control (RBC) were harvested at 7 wk of age. Carcasses were weighed and deboned after a 4 h postmortem (PM) chill. Parts were weighed to determine parts yield based on chilled carcass weight. Meat pH was determined 24 h PM and 24 h drip loss was determined. Split breasts were weighed, packaged, displayed under simulated retail conditions, and sampled on display Days 0, 1, 2, and 3 for instrumental color and microbial count of Pseudomonas ssp.ResultsChilled carcass weight was greater (P < 0.05) in the HMC and RBC lines than the LMC line. Percent yield of breast, wing, leg and rack were not different (P > 0.05) among the three lines. The LMC and RBC lines had greater (P < 0.05) tenderloin yield compared to the HMC line. The LMC line had greater (P < 0.05) meat pH followed by the RBC line and then the HMC line. The HMC line had greater (P < 0.05) L*, b* and hue values followed by RBC line and then LMC line. The LMC line had greater (P < 0.05) a* values and oxymyoglobin ratio followed by RBC line and then LMC line. There was no difference (P > 0.05) in chroma among the three lines. After 24 h PM, the HMC line had more (P < 0.05) percent drip loss than the LMC and RBC lines but there was no difference (P > 0.05) in package drip loss from the start of simulated display to end of simulated display among the three lines. On each display day, the LMC line had increased counts of Pseudomonas ssp. compared to the RBC and LMC lines. Counts of Pseudomonas ssp. was similar between RBC and LMC lines on display Days 0, 2, and 3 with RBC line having increased counts on display Day 1 compared to the HMC line. There was a weak correlation (r = 0.12) between meat pH and counts of Pseudomonas ssp.ConclusionSelection for L* affected chilled carcass weights and percent yield of tenderloins, but not any other part yields. The growth of Pseudomonas ssp. is affected by the lines selected for L* but the relationship of meat pH and the growth of Pseudomonas ssp. is weak.

Relationships between temperament, meat quality, and carcass traits in Nellore cattle1

The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between temperament in Nellore bulls with carcass and meat quality traits. In total, 1,400 bulls were studied, and temperament was assessed using two measurements: movement score (MOV) and flight speed test (FS). Both MOV and FS were measured at two time points, with background (MOVb and FSb) temperament measured at yearling age, ~550 d after birth, and the preslaughter (MOVps and FSps) temperament measured at the end of the feedlot period. The change of temperament resulting in an increase or decrease in reactivity was also used to measure meat quality. The traits used to define carcass and meat quality included carcass bruises (BRU), hot carcass weight (HCW, kg), ribeye area (REA, cm2), backfat thickness (BFT, cm), marbling score (MS), meat pH after thawing (pH), presence or absence of dark cutters, color parameters of luminosity (L*), redness (a*) and yellowness (b*), cooking loss (CL, %), and Warner–Bratzler shear force (WBSF, kg). A principal component (PC) analysis was initially applied to the carcass and meat quality traits, followed by logistic regression models and linear mixed models to evaluate the effects of temperament on carcass and meat quality. The risks of carcass bruises and dark cutters did not differ as a function of any temperament trait (P &gt; 0.05). In turn, animals classified as high MOVb (reactive) had lower PC3 values (P = 0.05), CL (P = 0.02), and tended to have lower MS (P = 0.08). In addition, animals classified as high FSb (faster and reactive cattle) produced carcasses with smaller REA (P &lt; 0.01), higher meat pH (P &lt; 0.01), lower color gradients (L*, P = 0.04; b*, P &lt; 0.01), and lower PC1 and PC4 scores (P &lt; 0.01) when compared with the low FSb class. For preslaughter temperament, high MOVps was related to lower color a* (P = 0.04), whereas high FSps was related to lower HCW, MS, and PC2 (P &lt; 0.01) than the calmer ones (low FSps). The reduction in MOV was related to more tender meat, and the reduction in FS to heavier carcass and brighter meat. We conclude that excitable temperament in Nellore cattle may have negative effects in some of the carcass and meat quality attributes assessed, mainly those related to muscle deposition on carcass and color gradients. Measurement of temperament before the cattle entered the feedlot was a better predictor of carcass and meat quality traits, compared with temperament assessment at the end of the feeding period.