X
XLinkedinWhatsAppTelegramTelegram
0
Read this article in:

The relationship between selected physiological post-mortem measures and an overall pig welfare assessment from farm to slaughter

Physiological post-mortem measures may, after the development of technological solutions for implementation at abattoirs, be used in daily operations as on-site tools for systematic monitoring of welfare.

20 November 2015
X
XLinkedinWhatsAppTelegramTelegram
0

On the day of slaughter, stressors associated with the handling, transport and lairage of pigs may have a significant impact on animal welfare. A welfare assessment based on the Welfare Quality® (WQ®) principles involving 480 pigs from 12 different commercial herds and including behavioural, clinical and physiological measures was carried out from farm to slaughter with the aim of investigating the relationship between selected post-mortem physiological measures and an aggregated animal welfare index (AWI). Blood temperature was quantified at exsanguination, and a blood sample collected at exsanguination was analysed for plasma concentration of glucose, lactate, albumin, total protein and creatine kinase activity. pH was measured 45 min after sticking in the m. longissimus dorsi (LD).

All welfare measures were categorised on a three-point scale (mild level: 0, moderate level: 1, severe level: 2) and aggregated into an AWI using a weighted (based on expert opinion of 38 experts) linear sum of prevalence on animal level. An overall AWI (AWIOverall) and an AWI per stage (AWIStage) were calculated. For AWIUnloading, significant relationships with the plasma concentration of glucose (positive), creatine kinase activity (positive) and total protein (negative) content of the blood were found. Furthermore, significant positive relationships between AWIRace and the plasma concentration of lactate and albumin were found. Based on the current data, we suggest one method to identify AWIs above vs. below a certain threshold using the post-mortem measures with AWIRace and lactate as an example.

In conclusion, physiological post-mortem measures may, after the development of technological solutions for implementation at abattoirs, be used in daily operations as on-site tools for systematic monitoring of welfare of finishing pigs in order to document the level of welfare.

P. Brandt, M.D. Aaslyng, T. Rousing, S.L. A. Schild, M.S. Herskin. The relationship between selected physiological post-mortem measures and an overall pig welfare assessment from farm to slaughter. Livestock Science. Volume 180, October 2015, Pages 194–202.

Article Comments

This area is not intended to be a place to consult authors about their articles, but rather a place for open discussion among pig333.com users.
Leave a new Comment

Access restricted to 333 users. In order to post a comment you must be logged in.

You are not subscribed to this list Swine News

Swine industry news in your email

Log in and sign up on the list

Related products in the shop

The shop specialized in the pig sector
Advice and technical service
More than 120 brands and manufacturers
You are not subscribed to this list Swine News

Swine industry news in your email

Log in and sign up on the list