The effects of season on health, welfare, and carcass and meat quality of slaughter pigs

Abstract

This study assessed the effects of season on health, behaviour, physiological stress parameters, and carcass and meat quality in a total of 480 slaughter pigs. The following health indicators were recorded: pneumonia, pleurisy, milk spots, and pericarditis. Behaviour was monitored during unloading (slipping, falling, turning back, reluctance to move, panting, shivering) and lairaging (panting, shivering, huddling). Blood lactate and glucose concentrations were determined at exsanguination. Performance indices (live weight, daily weight gain), carcass (carcass weight, backfat and loin thickness, lean meat content, carcass lesion score), and meat quality (pH, temperature, drip, thawing and cooking losses, colour, marbling) traits were measured postmortem. Pigs slaughtered in winter had the highest live weight, carcass weight, loin thickness, and carcass lesion score, while the lowest live weight, carcass weight, and backfat thickness were recorded in pigs slaughtered in summer. The highest lactate and glucose concentrations were recorded in pigs slaughtered in summer. The highest prevalence of red, soft, and exudative meat was recorded in pigs slaughtered in winter. Pigs slaughtered in summer had the lowest pH, the highest thawing loss, L* value, b* value, and occurrence of pale, soft, and exudative meat. Pigs slaughtered in autumn had the lowest drip loss, cooking loss, L* value, b* value, and the greatest percentage of red, firm, and nonexudative meat. In conclusion, the summer and winter temperatures compromised health and welfare and reduced carcass and meat quality in slaughter pigs, indicating that protection against heat and cold stress is not yet effective.