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Original Research
4.
Relationship of transport distance, sex on live
weight loss of pigs during transit to slaughter
house -
P H G J DeSilva and A Kalubowila
Vet World. 2012; 5(3): 150-154
doi:
10.5455/vetworld.201
2.150-154
Abstract
The transport distance have a significant impact
on the levels of stress burden on animals before
slaughter and have an impact on veterinary
decision-making about meat edibility and also on
the quality of slaughtered animal meat. The
objective of the study was to determine live
weight, dress weight and body weight loss during
transportation of different sex group of pigs into
the Slaughtering house. The body weight loss
during pre-slaughter treatment of animals was
recorded and carcass value traits were assessed in
details. Relationship between pig live weight and
dress weight was reported as dress weight = 1.06 +
0. 73 live weight. There were significant effect
of sex and transport distance on live weight at
slaughter, carcass weights and dressing percentage
(p<0.01). Pigs given the short transport (4 Km)
lost 23.01 % and pigs given the long transport (90
Km) 29.37% of their initial live weight. Overall,
dressing percentage was negatively correlated with
the percentage loss of live weight in transport
(P<0.01). As conclusion, long transportation of
the pigs is a great stress factor and has adverse
effects on the live weight of the pigs.
Keywords: Transport distance, Sex, Live weight
loss, Dress weight
