Effect of bedding materials during transport on welfare indicators and microbiological quality in lambs
Ana I. Rodríguez C , Almudena Cózar A B , Luis Calvo C and Herminia Vergara A B D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología Agroforestal y Genética, Escuela Técnica Superior de Ingenieros Agrónomos y de Montes, Campus Universitario, 02071 Albacete, Spain.
B Instituto de Desarrollo Regional-Sección de Calidad Alimentaria, Campus Universitario, 02071 Albacete, Spain.
C INCARLOPSA, Tarancón (Cuenca), Spain.
D Corresponding author. Email: herminia.vergara@uclm.es
Animal Production Science 57(9) 1924-1930 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN15799
Submitted: 11 November 2015 Accepted: 16 May 2016 Published: 29 July 2016
Abstract
Three bedding materials, sawdust, rice husk and double layer of sawdust used during transportation to slaughterhouse were compared. Sixty light male lambs of Merino breed were used in the present study. Welfare physiological indicators (glucose, lactate, creatinine, lactate dehydrogenase, creatine kinase, cortisol and catecholamine) sampled before and immediately after the transportation, and carcass microbial quality (total viable counts, Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas spp.) in three different sites of carcass (rump, flank and neck) were assessed. Bedding material during transport did not affect any of the physiological indicators analysed, except for creatinine, which was lower in lambs transported with rice husk. Bedding material had no effect on carcass microbial quality. Sampling site affected values of Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas spp. The lowest values for Enterobacteriaceae count were found in the neck, while Pseudomonas spp. presented the highest count in the flank site. In conclusion, under the conditions of the present study, all substrates tested could be recommended as bedding material during transport, without showing significant differences on animal-welfare indicators or carcass microbiological quality.
Additional keywords: carcass contamination, blood, sheep, substrates, transportation.
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