The effect of transport on live weight loss, meat quality and blood haematology in slaughter ostriches

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The production and export of ostrich meat from southern Africa, to especially the European Union, are increasing rapidly due to the healthy nature of ostrich meat. The European Union has very high standards when importing food products, and it is inevitable that more emphasis is being placed on the production of high quality ostrich meat. Another aspect also of concern to consumers, is the welfare of animals prior to slaughter, and this forces producers to look at ways to decrease stress of animals during the ante-mortemperiod. Research regarding the effect of stress during theante-mortem period, and as a result, on meat quality, haematology and weight loss in ostriches, is lacking and thus the purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of various transport distances, travel conditions and different birds on these factors. Ante-mortem stress was measured using serum corticosterone levels (ng/ml), heterophil: lymphocyte (H:L)ratio, white blood cell (WBC) count, aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and creatine kinase (CK), as well as the rate and extent of pH decline in the M. gastrocnemius. Special emphasis was also placed on the meat quality parameters drip loss, cooking loss, colour and Warner-Bratzler shear force (kg/1.27 cm diameter). Live weight losses, as well as carcass weight and weight of bruises cut off from each bird were also recorded during various stages of the trials. The effect of transport distance on the meat quality of ostriches was investigated. Ultimate pHumeasurements were taken at 24 hourspost-mortem. The muscles of the ostriches from the control group (i.e. birds that were not transported prior to slaughter) had a lower mean pHu (5.77 ± 0.053) than birds that travelled 60 (5.93 ± 0.053) and 600 km (6.11 ± 0.053), respectively. Differences in meat drip loss percentage were also observed between the three treatments. The birds in the control group (0.40 ± 0.07 %) had the lowest meat drip loss percentage compared to the birds that travelled 60 km (treatment C) (1.36 ± 0.07 %) and 600 km (treatment B) (0.97 ± 0.07 %), respectively, to a commcerical ostrich abattoir. Ostriches that were transported for 600 km (8.13 ± 1.16 %) had a greater percentage live weight loss during theantemortem period than birds that travelled a distance of 60 km (2.4 ± 2.185 %) to the abattoir, although both groups were deprived of feed for the same period. When the haematology of the groups that travelled different distances was compared at various time intervals in the ante-mortem period, both groups of birds experienced significant increases in WBC, s-AST and s-CK. An increased H:L ratio from pre-transport to post-transport was only evident in the birds that travelled 600 km (treatment B). However, the birds that travelled 60 km were the only group of birds that had significant elevated serum corticosterone levels during theante-mortem period.The increase in the various blood parameters indicates severe physical stress, which negatively affected meat quality. Another trial also investigated the effect of various farming systems and transport on meat quality and bruising of ostrich carcasses. Ostriches were raised in three different farming systems, i.e. feedlot -, semiintensive - and free range conditions. Other factors that could maybe impact on stress susceptibility, such as road conditions, floorspace and floor type were also investigated. A significant difference in meat pHu was found between ostriches that were raised in a feedlot (5.95 ± 0.018) and semi-intensive (6.04 ± 0.033) environment. The feedlot birds also had the greatest percentage of carcass weight removed due to bruising. The free range birds were the birds that had the lowest floor density per birds and also had the least amount of bruising on their carcasses. Incidently the other two groups (feedlot and semi intensive) were the birds that travelled on the same type of road (mountain pass) in a truck with rubber flooring whilst the free range birds travelled on a straight road in trucks with metal grid floors.The results indicate that the type of farming system didn't have a significant influence on meat quality of ostriches, but that factors such as road conditions, flooring and bird density did play a significant role in the incidence of bruises and injuries obtained during transport.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University