Publication Date: October 28, 2013
Reference: Centered on Swine Volume 19, Number 1, 2013.
Country: Canada
Summary:
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Sprinkling pigs with water during hot weather is thought to reduce pig mortality and reduce stress, but there is no standard for when it is implemented. Recommendations for when to sprinkle pigs vary from 14.1-24.8ºC, and not all transport trucks are equip with sprinklers. Transport can be stressful for pigs, and increased stress leads to fatigue, and changes in lactate levels and pH, which in turn decreases meat quality. By measuring lactate and pH levels after slaughter, it was found sprinkling before loading and after unloading reduced stress, and increased meat quality when transporting at temperatures over 20ºC.