The study of transport conditions of pigs to the slaughterhouse

Abstract

Transport of animals from the farm to the slaughterhouse carries numerous obstacles: manipulation and contact with the man/operator, transport, different conditions and environment which the animal is now facing and is not used to, deprivation of food and water, changes in the social structure, separation and/or mixing of animals. As a consequence, the animals can develop fear, dehydration, hunger, increased physical activity and tension, fatigue and injury. Inability of animals to overcome stress factors may further complicate and highlight the consequences and have a negative impact on the meat quality. In this paper, conditions of transport of pigs were analysed by following the appropriate parameters relating to vehicle and equipment, the person driving the vehicle, the process of unloading animals and effects of transport (fractures, mortality, etc.). The means of transport used to transport animals from the place of procurement to the slaughterhouse did not fully satisfy the required criteria. As a result of transport, 3% of the animals were unable to stand up, 2% of the animals had fractures, and 1% mortality was recorded.

Put životinje od farme do klanice nosi brojne prepreke sa kojima se ona susreće: manipulacija i kontakt sa čovekom/ operaterom, transport, drugačiji uslovi i sredina u kojoj se životinja zatekla a na koju nije navikla, uskraćivanje hrane i vode, promena u socijalnoj strukturi, odvajanje i/ili mešanje životinja. Kao posledica svega navedenog, kod životinja se može javiti strah, dehidracija, glad, pojačana fizička napetost i aktivnost, zamor i povrede. Nemogućnost životinje da prevaziđe stresne faktore sredine može dodatno zakomplikovati i naglasiti posledice i imati negativan uticaj na kvalitet mesa. U ovom radu su ispitani uslovi transporta svinja, praćenjem odgovarajućih parametara koji se odnose na prevozno sredstvo i opremu, lice koje upravlja vozilom, postupak istovara životinja i posledice transporta (prelomi, smrtnost i dr.). Transportna sredstva koja su korišćena za prevoz životinja od mesta nabavke do klanice nisu u potpunosti zadovoljavala tražene kriterijume. Kao posledica transporta 3% životinja nije moglo da ustane, 2% životinja je imalo prelome i zabeležen je 1% uginuća.