Truck suspension system: impacts on pigs welfare, carcass and pork - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Truck suspension system: impacts on pig’s welfare, carcass and pork quality Dalla Costa F.A*., Paranhos da Costa M., Faucitano L., Dalla Costa O.A., Lopes L.S., Oliveira S.E.O, Diesel T., Renuncio E., Holdefer A., Lorenzetti A. Master Degree Student – UNESP/FCAV * filipedallacosta@gmail.com

INTRODUCTION • The transport is considered as a major source of stress to pigs; (Warriss, 1998; Von Borell and Schaffer, 2005) • Suspension system  Vibration; (Singh, 1991; Pierce et al., 1992; Randall et al., 1996)  Importance: • It is considered aversive by pigs; • Travel sickness; • Increase stress and skin damage - slips and falls (Barton-Gade et al., 1996; Warriss, 1998; Randall, 1992; Perremans et al., 2001; Santurtun and Phillips, 2015)

OBJECTIVE  Evaluate the effects of two truck suspension systems: Leaf-spring suspension vs. Air suspension system • Lairage behaviour; • Stress blood parameters; • Carcass and meat quality traits ( Longissimus dorsis and Semimembranosus muscles).

MATERIAL AND METHODS  A total of 120 pigs (113 ± 1.1 Kg) - 5 farms;  Two double-decked trucks - Leaf-spring suspension vs. Air suspension system; • 230 kg/m 2 • 96 pigs/truck • 53.5 (±2.5) Km • 80 (±6.5) min

MATERIAL AND METHODS

MATERIAL AND METHODS  Lairage: 3 hours  Behavioural Observations – trained observer  Method: scan sampling with direct observation (Martin and Bateson, 1993) - 15 minutes;  Behaviour: Standing, Walking, Seating, Lying down, Fighting

MATERIAL AND METHODS  Stress Parameters : Lactate and Cortisol - bleeding;  Carcass Quality: Carcass Lesions;  Pork Quality ( Longissimus dorsis and Semimembranosus ): • pH (45min, 24h post-mortem ); • Colour: Minolta and JPCS; • Drip loss;

MATERIAL AND METHODS Stress Parameters and Carcass and Pork Quality Randomized block – Factorial 2x5 (2 treatments and 5 farms); Block – Combination of floors (lower and upper) and boxes position (back, middle and front) in the truck; Variance analysis was performed using GLM SAS with the probability level of 5% and F test; Behaviour Analysis Randomized block (Farm); Treatments  Plots Evaluation time  Subplots The tests were performed using the FREQ procedure of SAS (2003) with Student's t test protected by the significance of the F test for mean comparison - 5% probability.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION • The type of suspension neither influenced pig behaviour in lairage nor blood cortisol and lactate concentrations at exsanguination ( P > 0.05 for all). a,b Different letters indicate significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) in the percentage of behavior expression between periods of evaluation by the Student t test, protected by the significance of the F test.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION • There was an effect of truck suspension system on the number of carcass lesion and pork quality; Suspension System P 2 Leaf-spring Air Site of Carcass 1 5.32 ± 0.62 a 3.73 ± 0.41 b Loin 0.03 2.26 ± 0.28 a 1.47 ± 0.15 b Ham 0.01 3.22 ± 0.66 a 3.35 ± 0.88 a Pallet NS Cause 1 2.78 ± 0.28 a 2.18 ± 0.23 a Handling 0.0808 5.80 ± 1.13 a 4.35 ± 1.09 a Fight NS 2.06 ± 0.22 a 1.38 ± 0.18 b Density 0.0254 1 Number of carcass lesion (mean ± e.p.) 2 NS = P > 0.05

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Values (mean ± e.p.) of pork quality parameters of pigs transported by truck with different suspension system. P 1 Muscle Variable Leaf-spring Air pH 24h 5.45 5.56 0.06 L* 47.57 47.30 NS Loin b* -0.43 -1.96 NS JPCS 2 2.68 2.97 > 0.01 Drip Loss (%) 4.86 5.13 NS pH 24h 5.53 5.61 > 0.01 L* 46.75 46.43 NS b* -1.29 -1.73 0.03 Ham JPCS 2 3.01 3.17 0.09 Drip Loss (%) 2.55 2.70 NS 1 NS = P > 0.05 2 JPCS: Japanese Pork Colour Standard (1 = pale to 6 = dark)

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION • The variation in pork colour and pH, may be indicative of a mild fatigue metabolic condition caused by leaf-spring system in both muscles locomotor and posture muscles; • Locomotor muscles are more prone to glycogen exhaustion after physical exercise (Rocha, Dionne, Saucier, Nannoni, & Faucitano, 2015; Wittman, Ecolan, Levasseur, & Fernandez, 2004).

CONCLUSION It may be concluded that the use of air suspension system during transportation improves carcass and meat quality of pigs.

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