Effect of loading density and weather conditions on animal welfare and meat quality of slaughter pigs

Abstract

There are several factors that affect the welfare and meat quality of pigs during pre-slaughter transport.Among various factors, the effects of weather conditions and loading density were studied. A total of 3,726 finishing pigs were allotted to one of nine groups arranged in a 3 × 3 factorial design according to the weather conditions (low temperature (LT), under 10°C; normal temperature (NT), 10-24°C; high temperature (HT), upper 24°C), and loading density (low density (LD), upper 0.43 m2/100 kg; normal density (ND), 0.37-0.43 m2/100 kg; high density (HD), under 0.37 m2/100 kg). Each treatment group follow as: LTLD, LTND, LTHD, NTLD, NTND, NTHD, HTLD, HTND, HTHD. In terms of carcass composition, pigs had the highest carcass weight and backfat thickness at LT. Comparing the HD transport to the ND transport, the meat quality indicated a lower pH and more drip loss. The incidence rate of pale, soft, exudative (PSE) pork was high in the order of the HD, LD, and the ND transport (20%, 9%, and 2%, respectively). The HT transport showed the lowest pH and greatest L* value under the given weather conditions. Pigs transported under the HTHD and LTLD conditions had the greatest rates of PSE pork (40% and 20%, respectively). Pigs exposed to HD transport had the shortest laying time and the highest overplap behavior. The LDLT transport pigs had a shorter laying time than the LDNT and LDHT transport pigs. In conclusion, too high or too low density transport is generally not excellent for meat quality or animal welfare, however it is preferable to transport at a slightly low density at high temperature and at a slightly high density at low temperature.

Effect of Crating Density and Weather in Transit on Behavior, Surface Temperature, and Respiration Rate in Broilers Considering Animal Welfare

“…또한 많은 연구에서 가금의 행동 중 앉기 행동의 경우 휴식 행동(resting)으로 분류하여 왔지만 (Bergmann et al, 2017;Henrikson et al, 2018), 가금 에 있어 행동은 단순 앉기와 서기 두 종류 외에도 다른 수많 은 종류의 행동이 발현되므로, 앉기와 서기 두 행동만의 발 현 정도를 비교하여 육계 복지를 평가하는 것은 적절하지 않을 수 있다. 따라서 추후 연구에서 육계 운송 시 앉기와 서기뿐만 아니라, 구체적인 행동(보행, 몸단장, 쪼기, 무리 짓기, 떨기, 날개짓 등)을 추가적으로 분석할 경우 (Ha et al, 2011;Bergmann et al, 2017;Henrikson et al, 2018) 흡수가 증가하는 경향은 과거의 산란계, 칠면조, 돼지의 운 송 관련 연구에서도 동일하게 나타났다 (Henrikson et al, 2018;Beaulac et al, 2020;An et al, 2023). 일반적으로 닭 의 헐떡거림(panting)은 열 스트레스에 대처하여 호흡수를 가쁘게 하고, 증기를 배출하여 체내 열을 발산시키는 행동 으로 알려져 있다 (Teeter et al, 1985;Mack et al, 2013).…”