The Influence of Slaughter Stress on Cortisol and Glucose Levels in Fatteners’ Blood Ser

Krzysztof Tereszkiewicz; Karolina Choroszy

The research aimed at an assessment of the changes in cortisol and glucose levels in the blood serum of fatteners of various races and of the meat-content as a result of slaughter stress. The material comprised the blood obtained from 120 fatteners of Polish Landrace, Polish White, Pietrain and Duroc breeds. Samples of blood to mark cortisol and glucose levels were taken twice. The first blood samples before stunning (sample I) were taken in the pre-slaughter room, immediately before the transfer of animals to the slaughter post. Fatteners underwent slaughter in a slaughterhouse located in Pig Performance Testing Station in Chorzelow, Poland. Alternating current of 400V and frequency of 50Hz and amperage of 2.5A was used as a stunning agent. The power was applied for 10-15s using Lotterschmidt-Weinberger tongs. The second blood samples (sample II) were taken during slaughter exsanguination. Blood was taken from the slaughter wound 20s after slaughter piercing. The level of glucose was marked by colorimetric method with HITACHI 912 automatic chemistry analyzer. The level of cortisol was marked by electrochemiluminescence method with COBAS E-410 Rosche apparatus. The highest concentration of cortisol in the serum before slaughter was observed in Pietrain fatteners. It was observed that that the concentration of cortisol in the serum of Pietrain fatteners was statistically significantly higher in comparison to Polish Landrace and Duroc breeds. As far as the concentration of glucose in the serum before slaughter is concerned, a significantly lower concentration of glucose in comparison to other breeds was observed in Polish Large White. The research proved that slaughter stress caused a significant increase in the concentration of cortisol and glucose in the serum in the blood of all the analysed breeds. The highest increase in the concentration of the examined hormone was observed in Pietrain fatteners. The greatest changes in the concentration of glucose between the blood samples were observed in Polish Large White and Polish Landrace fatteners. The research proved that slaughter stress caused a significant increase in the concentration of cortisol and glucose in the serum in all the analysed classes of meat-content. The researched proved a correlation between the changes in the concentration of cortisol and glucose under the influence of slaughter stress. An increase in the concentration of cortisol in all the analysed groups of animals was accompanied by an increase in the concentration of glucose. The most visible increase in the examined blood indices was observed in Pietrain fatteners and in fatteners with the highest meat content. The research showed that in the assessment of the intensity of the course of slaughter stress apart from the measurement of cortisol concentration, the measurement of the concentration of glucose may be used, with a simultaneous consideration of differences associated with breed and meat-content of the examined animals.

Select Volume / Issue:

• Volume 4,Issue 1, July 2015

Year:

2015

Type of Publication:

Article

Keywords:

Cortisol; Glucose; Fatteners; Slaughter Stress

Journal:

IJAIR

Volume:

4

Number:

1

Pages:

115-120

Month:

July