The effects of resting sheep after a long journey on concentrations of plasma constituents, post-mortem changes in muscles, and meat properties

Abstract

After a 1110 km road journey, rams were rested either 18 hr with water available or 120 hr with feed and water before slaughter. Not all animals rested for 120 hr ate the feed offered. Animals rested for only 18 hr had less glycogen in the M. longissimus dorsi (LD) and liver at slaughter than those rested for 120 hr. The ultimate pH values of the LD (5.94) and M. semitendinosus (6.31) of rams rested for 18 hr were greater than those of the same muscles from animals that ate during their 120 hr rest period. Meat colour was darker in chops from animals rested for 18 hr than in those from animals rested 120 hr, although peak shear force values for this muscle did not differ between the two treatments.