Transport of Pigs of Two Market Weights at Two Space Allowances: Effects on Behaviour, Blood Parameters, and Meat Quality under Summer and Winter Conditions
Jessica Gonçalves Vero,
Nicolas Devillers,
Ana Maria Bridi,
Kyle A. T. Moak,
Gizella Aboagye,
Guilherme Agostinis Ferreira,
Jansller Luiz Genova,
Sabine Conte,
Luigi Faucitano
Affiliations
Jessica Gonçalves Vero
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Sherbrooke Research and Development Centre, 2000 College Street, Sherbrooke, QC J1M 0C8, Canada
Nicolas Devillers
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Sherbrooke Research and Development Centre, 2000 College Street, Sherbrooke, QC J1M 0C8, Canada
Ana Maria Bridi
Departamento de Zootecnia, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina 86051-990, Brazil
Kyle A. T. Moak
Department of Animal Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B4, Canada
Gizella Aboagye
European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), Via Carlo Magno 1A, 43126 Parma, Italy
Guilherme Agostinis Ferreira
Departamento de Zootecnia, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina 86051-990, Brazil
Jansller Luiz Genova
Departamento de Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Viçosa, Viçosa 36570-900, Brazil
Sabine Conte
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Sherbrooke Research and Development Centre, 2000 College Street, Sherbrooke, QC J1M 0C8, Canada
Luigi Faucitano
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Sherbrooke Research and Development Centre, 2000 College Street, Sherbrooke, QC J1M 0C8, Canada
This study was carried out through two separate experiments aiming at evaluating the effects of two space allowances (0.54 and 0.62 m2/pig in summer and 0.44 m2/pig and 0.50 m2/pig in winter) on the behavioural and physiological response, and meat quality of pigs of two slaughter weights (120 kg and 140 kg). In summer, higher blood haematocrit levels were found at slaughter in heavier pigs transported at a smaller space allowance (p = 0.04). During lairage, pigs transported at a smaller space allowance started fighting later (p = 0.04). Fighting behaviour was greater in heavier pigs (p ≤ 0.05), whilst their drinking activity was lower (p p p = 0.05) in heavier pigs. In winter, only lower space allowance influenced some meat quality traits (p < 0.05), but these effects were minor. The effects of space allowance during summer transports on within-truck ambient conditions, post-transport pigs’ welfare, and meat quality are similar. Mixing heavier pigs may result in greater aggressiveness and more fatigue-related meat quality variation during summer. Overall, winter transport results may have been biased by the short journey and within-truck load distribution.
