Risk factors associated with pig pre-slaughtering losses. (September 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Dalla Costa, Osmar Antônio; Dalla Costa, Filipe Antonio; Feddern, Vivian; Lopes, Letícia dos Santos; Coldebella, Arlei; Gregory, Neville George; de Lima, Gustavo Julio Mello Monteiro
• Is Part Of: Meat science. Volume 155(2019)
• Page Start: 61
• Page End: 68
• Publication Date: 2019-09
• Subjects: Bruises -- Carcass condemnation -- Dead on-arrival -- Fatigued pigs -- Non-ambulatory pigs; Meat -- Periodicals; Meat industry and trade -- Periodicals; Viande -- Périodiques; Viande -- Industrie -- Périodiques; Meat; Meat industry and trade; Periodicals; 641.36
• DOI: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2019.04.020
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0309-1740

Abstract

Abstract: The incidence of non-ambulatory non-injured (NANI), non-ambulatory injured (NAI) and dead pigs on-arrival at three Brazilian slaughterhouses were evaluated in 37, 962 pigs to identify risk factors linked to them, besides carcass bruises and limb fractures. Total pre-slaughtering losses were 1.18%, in which NAI (0.39%) and NANI (0.37%) incidences contributed the most. A positive relation between on farm steeper ramp slope >20° and the incidence of NAI, NANI and dead pigs at unloading was found. Farm size, pigs/pen, enthalpy at loading, transportation time, truck loading order, muscle thickness and carcass weight, were identified as risk factors for pre-slaughtering losses. Loading procedures influenced the occurrence of limb fractures and bruises (which are a welfare issue and should be reduced). Therefore, personal training on pre-slaughter handling is essential to reduce the risk factors to improve animal welfare and avoid losses during the pre-slaughter process. Highlights: Total losses during transport of pigs were 1.18%. The incidence of NAI and NANI pigs were 0.39 and 0.37%, respectively. The NAI and NANI pigs were the causes that contributed mostly to transport losses. Most of risk factors occurred either on the farm or during transport.