Abstract

SANTANA, Á.P.; MURATA, L.S.; MCMANUS, C.P.  and  BERNAL, F.E.M.. Serum cortisol concentrátion in swines submitted to pre-sláughter hándling ánd electric stunning. Arch. zootec. [online]. 2009, vol.58, n.221, pp.149-152. ISSN 1885-4494.

The dosage of cortisol concentration has been used as stress measure parameter of swine breedings. Serum cortisol concentration was determined in finishing pigs in rest (group 1) and in finishing pigs submmited to pre-slaughter handling and electric sttuning (group 2). Blood from slaughtered swine were collected immediately after sttuning. Cortisol concetration average for group 1 animal was of 21.70 ng/ml while for the group 2 was of 74.5 ng/ml, the difference between cortisol levels were significant (p<0.001) suggesting stressfull condition of pre-slaughter handilng and electric sttunig for those studied. The pH average of carcasses from the animals slaughtered after 24 h in the cold chamber was 6.2 and in their visual evaluation, carcasses with characteristics PSE (pale, soft and exsudative) or DFD (dry, firm and dark) were not detected.

Keywords : Stress; Carcasses; Pork meat; DFD; Meat quality; PSE; Blood serum.

        · abstract in Portuguese     · text in Portuguese     · Portuguese ( pdf )