Muscle pH, rigor mortis and blood variables in Atlantic salmon transported in two types of well‐boat

Abstract

Two systems for transporting live salmon (Salmo salar) were compared in terms of their effects on blood variables, muscle pH and rigor index: an 'open system' well-boat with recirculated sea water at 13.5 degrees C and a stocking density of 107 kg/m3 during an eight-hour journey, and a 'closed system' well-boat with water chilled from 16.7 to 2.1 degrees C and a stocking density of 243.7 kg/m3 during a seven-hour journey. Groups of 10 fish were sampled at each of four stages: in cages at the farm, in the well-boat after loading, in the well-boat after the journey and before unloading, and in the processing plant after they were pumped from the resting cages. At each sampling, the fish were stunned and bled by gill cutting. Blood samples were taken to measure lactate, osmolality, chloride, sodium, cortisol and glucose, and their muscle pH and rigor index were measured at death and three hours later. In the open system well-boat, the initial muscle pH of the fish decreased at each successive stage, and at the final stage they had a significantly lower initial muscle pH and more rapid onset of rigor than the fish transported on the closed system well-boat. At the final stage all the blood variables except glucose were significantly affected in the fish transported on both types of well-boat.

Determination and Comparison of Physical Meat Quality Parameters of Percidae and Salmonidae in Aquaculture

“…In future studies, for these species, the influence of storage procedure and time on the meat color has to be determined. The impact of storage and also stress on tissue coloration was already shown for other species [64,65]. In addition, Robb and colleagues showed the influence of chemical anaesthesia and electrostimulation on the meat color of rainbow trout [66].…”

Anoxia stress and effect on flesh quality and gene expression of tilapia

“…Pre-slaughter stress in fish may lead to undesirable characteristics such as extreme flaccidity, increased gapping incidence, decreased WHC and increased muscle activity by reducing energy reserves and affecting the development of rigor mortis (Roth et al, 2002;Lambooij et al, 2006;Bagni et al, 2007). On addition, ante-mortem stress may affect the level of glycogen storage and consequently, post-mortem pH (Gatica et al, 2010;Ontarak et al, 2015). The reduction in pH due to lactic acid accumulation is one of the most significant post-mortem changes in muscles.…”

Pre-Slaughter Stress Affects Ryanodine Receptor Protein Gene Expression and the Water-Holding Capacity in Fillets of the Nile Tilapia

“…Fish capture, handling, and transportation are traumatic procedures that may cause severe physiological reactions, such as increased muscle activity, muscle and liver energy reserve mobilization and alterations in the acid-base blood balance [ 17 ]. In fish, the most commonly used plasmatic cortisol is the stress indicator since stress increases cortisol levels [ 18 ].…”