The impact of including rest time between transport and slaughter on the IGF-1 and cortisol concentration in the blood serum of barrows

Abstract

The aim of our experiment was to observe the differences of IGF-I and cortisol concentrations in the blood serum of pigs when killed immediately after transport and after a 48 hour stay in a slaughterhouse.  We tested 24 Large white barrows from one breed with the average weight of 105 kg. The first group went through a 2 hour long transport before slaughter. After being delivered to the slaughterhouse, the barrows were killed immediately. After transport, the second group was stabled for 48 hours in a stabling space near the slaughterhouse and the barrows were killed after that. There were 12 animals in each experimental group. Blood samples were taken immediately after slaughter. We used the ELISA method to determine IGF-I and cortisol concentration in the serum. The IGF-I concentration in the serum was significantly lower (p < 0.01) in the barrow group that was killed after the 48 hour stay in the stabling space near the slaughterhouse, as opposed to the barrow group that was killed immediately after transport. The cortisol concentration in the serum of both experimental groups did not display significant differences. Our results indicate that stabling animals in a waiting stabling space near the slaughterhouse can cause a long-lasting stress instead of relax.