The aim of this study was to determine the effects of loading method and crate position on the truck onsome stress indicators in commercial rabbits transported to the slaughterhouse. On two journeys inJuly a total of 192 animals (82 days old) were transported to the slaughterhouse during the morning(9.00 a.m.) for a mean transport time of 100 min. The transport truck was uncovered, with a total of128 fixed plastic transport crates, for an overall capacity of 1500 subjects. To evaluate the effects ofcrate position, at each session, 96 animals were distributed at random in 8 crates on the same side ofthe truck (12 animals per cage, 57.7 kg/m2) as follows: 24 animals in 2 top front (TF) crates, 24animals in 2 bottom front (BF) crates, 24 in 2 top rear (TR) crates and 24 in 2 bottom rear (BR) crates.In the middle of TF, BF, TR and BR crates four data-loggers were placed for temperature (T°) andrelative humidity (%RH) control. To evaluate different loading methods one cage from each positionwas loaded in a smooth way (S: 12 rabbits from the farm crates were placed in a wide trolley andcarried gently into the transport cage - loading time for 48 subjects: 12 min.) while the other wasloaded in a rough way (R: rabbits from four crates were carried all together in the same trolley andloaded hurriedly - loading time for 48 subjects: 4 min.). All rabbits were individually weighed beforetransport and at unloading. To assess some stress indicators, blood samples were collected from 40male rabbits (20 per journey: 5 per truck position, 10 per loading method) on the farm 2 days beforeloading (basal level) and at slaughter during exsanguinations. The TR crates showed the highest meantemperature and the lowest relative humidity (P<0.001) while the other cages on the truck differedonly in humidity. No effects on weight losses during transport could be ascribed to loading methods orcrate position in the truck. Corticosterone showed a tendency to increase from basal levels in allanimals, the increase being significant only during transport using the rough loading method.Neutrophilia and lymphocitopenia were significant for all rabbits, independently of their position inthe truck or the loading method. Packed cell volume never differed significantly among groups.Rabbits transported in TR crates (with higher mean temperature) showed a significant augmentation oftotal protein level, as a possible consequence of dehydration. A significant upsurge of aspartate aminotransferase and creatine kinase activities was observed in all the animals. In conclusion, stressparameters were more influenced by transport and handling itself rather than by specific conditionsrelated to different loading methods or crate position in the truck.[...]
Effects of loading method and crate position on the truck on some stress indicators in rabbits transported to the slaughterhouse
VIGNOLA, Giorgio;GIAMMARCO, MELANIA;LAMBERTINI, Lamberto
2008-01-01
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the effects of loading method and crate position on the truck onsome stress indicators in commercial rabbits transported to the slaughterhouse. On two journeys inJuly a total of 192 animals (82 days old) were transported to the slaughterhouse during the morning(9.00 a.m.) for a mean transport time of 100 min. The transport truck was uncovered, with a total of128 fixed plastic transport crates, for an overall capacity of 1500 subjects. To evaluate the effects ofcrate position, at each session, 96 animals were distributed at random in 8 crates on the same side ofthe truck (12 animals per cage, 57.7 kg/m2) as follows: 24 animals in 2 top front (TF) crates, 24animals in 2 bottom front (BF) crates, 24 in 2 top rear (TR) crates and 24 in 2 bottom rear (BR) crates.In the middle of TF, BF, TR and BR crates four data-loggers were placed for temperature (T°) andrelative humidity (%RH) control. To evaluate different loading methods one cage from each positionwas loaded in a smooth way (S: 12 rabbits from the farm crates were placed in a wide trolley andcarried gently into the transport cage - loading time for 48 subjects: 12 min.) while the other wasloaded in a rough way (R: rabbits from four crates were carried all together in the same trolley andloaded hurriedly - loading time for 48 subjects: 4 min.). All rabbits were individually weighed beforetransport and at unloading. To assess some stress indicators, blood samples were collected from 40male rabbits (20 per journey: 5 per truck position, 10 per loading method) on the farm 2 days beforeloading (basal level) and at slaughter during exsanguinations. The TR crates showed the highest meantemperature and the lowest relative humidity (P<0.001) while the other cages on the truck differedonly in humidity. No effects on weight losses during transport could be ascribed to loading methods orcrate position in the truck. Corticosterone showed a tendency to increase from basal levels in allanimals, the increase being significant only during transport using the rough loading method.Neutrophilia and lymphocitopenia were significant for all rabbits, independently of their position inthe truck or the loading method. Packed cell volume never differed significantly among groups.Rabbits transported in TR crates (with higher mean temperature) showed a significant augmentation oftotal protein level, as a possible consequence of dehydration. A significant upsurge of aspartate aminotransferase and creatine kinase activities was observed in all the animals. In conclusion, stressparameters were more influenced by transport and handling itself rather than by specific conditionsrelated to different loading methods or crate position in the truck.[...]I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
