The objective of the study was to investigate the effect of transportation distance and crating density on broiler meat quality during hot and humid weather. Breast meat samples were collected from broilers (Ross-308) after transportation for 80, 160, and 240 km at crating densities of 10, 12, and 15 birds per crate. The broilers were transported in plastic crates of 0.91×0.55×0.31 m (length×width×height) in summer at an ambient temperature of 27.2-33.6 ºC and relative humidity of 52.7-62.9%. The birds were then slaughtered, and the meats' physicochemical characteristics, marination and cooking attributes were measured. Meat pH at 2 hours (h) postmortem (PM) was significantly higher in birds transported for 80 and 160 km compared to those transported for up to 240 km, while meat pH at 24 h PM was higher in birds transported for up to 160 km compared to the other treatments; however, no effect of different crating densities on meat pH and drip loss was observed. Meat losses such as drip loss, thaw loss, cooking loss in raw and marinated breast, and meat shear force were significantly higher in birds transported for up to 240 km compared to the other treatments. An increase in crating density above 12 birds per crate also increased thaw loss, whereas crating density of 12 birds per crate and higher increased cooking loss and meat shear force. Meat lightness also increased significantly with the increase in transportation distance above 160 km and crating density above 12 birds per crate. In conclusion, transportation of broilers for more than 80 km with crating density higher than 12 birds per crate during summer was associated with severe losses in yield and deterioration in physical appearance and functional characteristics of meat.
A study was conducted to determine the impact of crating density and transportation distance on losses and physiological response of broilers during the winter season. For this, ROSS-308 broilers were crated at three densities (i.e., 10, 12, and 15 birds/crate) in plastic crates and transported in three distances (i.e., 80, 160, and 240 km) during the winter season at 3.6-9.5ºC temperature and 63.3-78.8% relative humidity. Results showed that body weight loss increased significantly with the increase in transportation distance and decrease in crating density, whereas dead on arrival, physical injuries and bruises were not different among different transportation distance and crating density treatments. Significant reduction in carcass and breast yield was observed with the increase in transportation distance, whereas an increase in crating density above 12 birds per crate increased breast yield. Birds transported for 240 km had the highest serum catalase activity and the lowest rectal body temperature compared to other treatments. A gradual increase in crating density resulted in the increase in thyroxine concentration and reduction in rectal temperature. Serum glucose, albumin and uric acid concertation increased significantly after 160km of transportation, but serum triglyceride contents decreased. Moreover, an increase in crating density also increased serum glucose and triglyceride. Results suggested that longer transportation distance during the winter season increased body weight shrinkage with a reduction in carcass and breast yield, and the impact of losses and stress was greater in treatments having a lower number of birds in crates.
IntroductionTransportation of broilers from farms located at variable distances to a centrally located processing plant as per welfare guidelines is a challenging task. Since, the world is facing the scenario of global warming (0.128 ± 0.026 ºC per year), the environment in Pakistan is also rapidly changing and extreme weather events are becoming more prominent [1,2]. The modern broiler breeds are more prone to heat stress, and their inability of thermoregulation under environmental extremes has adverse effects that may range from mild discomfort to death [3,4]. Broilers are transported in open sided trucks having only have passive ventilation linked with the movement of the truck, which results in poor airflow and heterogeneous distribution of air creating a thermal core inside the crates [5,6], especially when the truck stops or reduces speed owing to some unavoidable circumstances. Hence, the distance, ambient temperature or season of the transportation, and duration of birds being inside crates combine to develop a stressful microclimate around the birds [7,8].The economic losses associated with the above mentioned stressors during transportation have become a potential cause of concern [9]. Mortality ranging from 0.14% to 2.09% for distances between 15 km and 300 km was reported in European countries with relatively less severe temperatures than the Asian subcontinent [10][11][12]. Not only the mortality but also the body weight loss and carcass downgrading are reported to increase during transportation [13]. The extent of body weight loss depends on geographical region and environmental conditions. For example, a loss of 2.36% was reported after 300 km of travel in Poland [14], while another study reported 6.02% loss with 400 km of transportation in Turkey [11]. Contrarily, a study in the hot and humid environment of Malaysia reported nonsignificant effects of 3 h of transportation on mortality and body weight loss [15]. Similarly, it was reported that up to 5 h of transportation had no effect on carcass yield and downgrading percentage [10].The distance of transportation interacts with the number of birds in crates at different ambient temperatures to affect the bird's welfare [16]. The crating density has a decisive role in the developing microclimate inside the crate and truck due to inadequate ventilation and heat exchange rate [17]. Lower than normal crating density can
A study was conducted to determine the effect of transportation distance and crating density on meat quality traits during winter. ROSS-308 broilers aged 35 days were divided into 10 treatment groups based on three transportation distances (80, 160, and 240 km) with three crating densities (10, 12, and 15 birds per crate) along with birds slaughtered on farm without crating as a control group. Each treatment was replicated 10 times and placed at various locations in the truck. The birds were transported in plastic crates of 0.91 m×0.55 m×0.30 m at ambient temperature and relative humidity of 3.6-9.5℃ and 63.3-78.8%, respectively. The breast meat quality parameters including pH, color, drip loss, shear force, marinade uptake and retention, cooking losses, and yield were determined. The results showed significantly higher pH 15 min post-slaughter (PS), drip loss, lightness, marinade uptake, raw meat cooking yield, and shear force in birds slaughtered on farm without any transportation. The birds transported for 240 km had significantly higher pH at 2 hours (h) PS, marinade retention, and cooking yield. Whereas, pH at 24 h PS, meat redness, yellowness, chroma, and marinated meat cooking yield were significantly higher in all transported treatments compared to the control group. Among different crating densities, the birds transported with 10 birds per crate showed significantly higher meat redness, marinade retention, and cooking yield. The crating density of 15 birds per crate had significantly higher lightness, hue, cooking loss, and shear force. However, no effect of crating density was observed on meat pH, drip loss, and marinade uptake. It can be concluded that an increase in transportation distance and low crating density during winter can negatively affect physical quality of meat with significant improvement in marination and cooking characteristics.
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