Influencia de las condiciones ante mortem y la tecnología del sacrificio sobre la calidad de la carne porcina.

Abstract

The influence of the slaughter technology on carcass and pork meat quality was studied. The work consisted in a throughout study including all the operations carried out in a great capacity industrial slaughter, from the arrival of the animals to the refrigerated carcass. This was made in order to detect and correcting possible quality losses related to the technology applied. For this purpose, it was considered the most important processes that could have influence on the meat quality, among them were included: installation design, loading areas, corrals, slaughtering rooms, and refrigeration rooms. 2047 pigs from 36 different farms were studied considering different batches and measurements according to the industrial stage under study. Weight, lean, and backfat of carcass were determined in order to establish their commercial type and subjective conformation. SM temperature at 45 min. 2 and 24 h pm was measured at three different deep levels (surface, middle, bottom). pH (45min. 2,8,and 24h pm and CE (45min, 2, and 24h pro) measurements at SM were used for the estimation of meat quality. Meat was classified according to the latest parameters as PSE (CE2>8 mS/cm), DFD (PH8>6.2), and normal (CE2<6mS/cm and pH8<6). The results obtained showed the relationship between antemortem handling, carcass refrigeration conditions, and slaughter handling with meat quality. The most critical parameters affecting meat quality can be considered: resting animal, entry of animals into the slaughter rooms, stunning, and finally refrigeration room capacity being enough to keep the slaughtering rate. Losses of meat quality were also found because of non-adequate design and location of the installations.