Influence of Loading Density and Gender on the Welfare and Meat Quality of Horses During Transport for Slaughter
The aim of this study was to determine the effects of loading density and gender on blood welfare indicators, carcass bruises and horsemeat quality. Data were collected from twelve transports of 89 slaughter horses originating from the same collection centre. The transportation of slaughter horses a...
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2024-10-01
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| author | Vesna Božić Jovanović Ružica Trailović Ivan Vićić Nevena Grković Milena Radaković Nedjeljko Karabasil Ana Kaić Nikola Čobanović |
| author_facet | Vesna Božić Jovanović Ružica Trailović Ivan Vićić Nevena Grković Milena Radaković Nedjeljko Karabasil Ana Kaić Nikola Čobanović |
| author_sort | Vesna Božić Jovanović |
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| description | The aim of this study was to determine the effects of loading density and gender on blood welfare indicators, carcass bruises and horsemeat quality. Data were collected from twelve transports of 89 slaughter horses originating from the same collection centre. The transportation of slaughter horses at high loading densities (>200 kg/m<sup>2</sup>), especially stallions, resulted in increased levels of lactate (<i>p</i> = 0.021), glucose (<i>p</i> < 0.0001), ceruloplasmin (<i>p</i> < 0.0001) and AOPP (<i>p</i> < 0.0001), but lower GSH levels (<i>p</i> < 0.0001). Compared to stallions and mares, geldings subjected to high loading density (>200 kg/m<sup>2</sup>) during transport had lower levels of the aforementioned blood metabolites. In addition, stallions exposed to a high load density (>200 kg/m<sup>2</sup>) had the highest frequency of severe (<i>p</i> = 0.0002), large (<i>p</i> < 0.0001) and circular (<i>p</i> = 0.0001) carcass bruises, which were predominantly located on the abdominal (<i>p</i> = 0.0056) and thoracic (<i>p</i> = 0.0004) wall. In contrast, a higher percentage (<i>p</i> < 0.0001) of undamaged carcasses was found in slaughter horses exposed to a low loading density (≤200 kg/m<sup>2</sup>) during transport. Stallions exposed to high loading densities (>200 kg/m<sup>2</sup>) during transport had the highest initial pH (<i>p</i> < 0.0001) and ultimate pH (<i>p</i> = 0.005) in terms of <i>m. longissimus lumborum</i> and redness (<i>p</i> = 0.017), but the lowest drip loss (<i>p</i> = 0.050) and lightness (<i>p</i> < 0.0001), which, consequently, led to the highest (<i>p</i> = 0.0045) proportion of DFD-like defects in the meat quality. In conclusion, the results of this study showed that high loading densities (>200 kg/m<sup>2</sup>), regardless of gender, negatively affect horse welfare during transport. In addition, stallions were more sensitive to poor pre-slaughter conditions and produced the lowest meat quality, while geldings were the most resistant. To determine the optimal transport density, further research is needed to determine the effects of different loading densities on the behaviour, physiology, carcass and meat quality of slaughter horses. |
| format | Article |
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| spelling | doaj-art-4bff627b2a3240fe9e645d36f2ecaf7c2025-08-20T02:14:15ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152024-10-011421306910.3390/ani14213069Influence of Loading Density and Gender on the Welfare and Meat Quality of Horses During Transport for SlaughterVesna Božić Jovanović0Ružica Trailović1Ivan Vićić2Nevena Grković3Milena Radaković4Nedjeljko Karabasil5Ana Kaić6Nikola Čobanović7Department of Food Hygiene and Technology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Oslobodjenja 18, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaDepartment of Animal Breeding, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Oslobodjenja 18, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaDepartment of Food Hygiene and Technology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Oslobodjenja 18, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaDepartment of Food Hygiene and Technology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Oslobodjenja 18, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaDepartment of Pathophysiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Oslobođenja 18, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaDepartment of Food Hygiene and Technology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Oslobodjenja 18, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaDepartment of Animal Science and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Zagreb, Svetošimunska Cesta 25, 10000 Zagreb, CroatiaDepartment of Food Hygiene and Technology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Oslobodjenja 18, 11000 Belgrade, SerbiaThe aim of this study was to determine the effects of loading density and gender on blood welfare indicators, carcass bruises and horsemeat quality. Data were collected from twelve transports of 89 slaughter horses originating from the same collection centre. The transportation of slaughter horses at high loading densities (>200 kg/m<sup>2</sup>), especially stallions, resulted in increased levels of lactate (<i>p</i> = 0.021), glucose (<i>p</i> < 0.0001), ceruloplasmin (<i>p</i> < 0.0001) and AOPP (<i>p</i> < 0.0001), but lower GSH levels (<i>p</i> < 0.0001). Compared to stallions and mares, geldings subjected to high loading density (>200 kg/m<sup>2</sup>) during transport had lower levels of the aforementioned blood metabolites. In addition, stallions exposed to a high load density (>200 kg/m<sup>2</sup>) had the highest frequency of severe (<i>p</i> = 0.0002), large (<i>p</i> < 0.0001) and circular (<i>p</i> = 0.0001) carcass bruises, which were predominantly located on the abdominal (<i>p</i> = 0.0056) and thoracic (<i>p</i> = 0.0004) wall. In contrast, a higher percentage (<i>p</i> < 0.0001) of undamaged carcasses was found in slaughter horses exposed to a low loading density (≤200 kg/m<sup>2</sup>) during transport. Stallions exposed to high loading densities (>200 kg/m<sup>2</sup>) during transport had the highest initial pH (<i>p</i> < 0.0001) and ultimate pH (<i>p</i> = 0.005) in terms of <i>m. longissimus lumborum</i> and redness (<i>p</i> = 0.017), but the lowest drip loss (<i>p</i> = 0.050) and lightness (<i>p</i> < 0.0001), which, consequently, led to the highest (<i>p</i> = 0.0045) proportion of DFD-like defects in the meat quality. In conclusion, the results of this study showed that high loading densities (>200 kg/m<sup>2</sup>), regardless of gender, negatively affect horse welfare during transport. In addition, stallions were more sensitive to poor pre-slaughter conditions and produced the lowest meat quality, while geldings were the most resistant. To determine the optimal transport density, further research is needed to determine the effects of different loading densities on the behaviour, physiology, carcass and meat quality of slaughter horses.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/21/3069acute-phase responseblood metabolitescarcass bruisesDomestic Mountain Ponyhorsemeat qualityoxidative stress biomarker |
| spellingShingle | Vesna Božić Jovanović Ružica Trailović Ivan Vićić Nevena Grković Milena Radaković Nedjeljko Karabasil Ana Kaić Nikola Čobanović Influence of Loading Density and Gender on the Welfare and Meat Quality of Horses During Transport for Slaughter Animals acute-phase response blood metabolites carcass bruises Domestic Mountain Pony horsemeat quality oxidative stress biomarker |
| title | Influence of Loading Density and Gender on the Welfare and Meat Quality of Horses During Transport for Slaughter |
| title_full | Influence of Loading Density and Gender on the Welfare and Meat Quality of Horses During Transport for Slaughter |
| title_fullStr | Influence of Loading Density and Gender on the Welfare and Meat Quality of Horses During Transport for Slaughter |
| title_full_unstemmed | Influence of Loading Density and Gender on the Welfare and Meat Quality of Horses During Transport for Slaughter |
| title_short | Influence of Loading Density and Gender on the Welfare and Meat Quality of Horses During Transport for Slaughter |
| title_sort | influence of loading density and gender on the welfare and meat quality of horses during transport for slaughter |
| topic | acute-phase response blood metabolites carcass bruises Domestic Mountain Pony horsemeat quality oxidative stress biomarker |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/21/3069 |
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