Biotechnology in Animal Husbandry 2024 Volume 40, Issue 2, Pages: 115-129
https://doi.org/10.2298/BAH2402115P
Full text (
319 KB)
Cited by
Fibrinous pericarditis in slaughtered pigs: Impact on welfare, growth performance and carcass and meat quality
Pajičić Đorđe 
(Department of Food Hygiene and Technology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia)
Kovačević Sara (Department of Animal Hygiene, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia)
Suvajdžić Branko (Department of Food Hygiene and Technology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia)
Grković Nevena (Department of Food Hygiene and Technology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia)
Vićić Ivan (Department of Food Hygiene and Technology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia)
Karabasil Nedjeljko (Department of Food Hygiene and Technology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia)
Čobanović Nikola (Department of Food Hygiene and Technology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia), cobanovic.nikola@vet.bg.ac.rs
This study aimed to determine the effects of fibrinous pericarditis on blood
welfare indicators, performance indices and carcass and meat quality of
slaughtered pigs. From a total of 144 examined pig hearts, the presence of
fibrinous pericarditis was recorded in 25.69% cases. The presence of
fibrinous pericarditis in slaughtered pigs was significantly associated with
decreased (P<0.0001) blood lactate and glucose levels. The presence of
fibrinous pericarditis in slaughtered pigs was significantly associated with
reduced average lifetime daily weight gain (P=0.0042), live weight
(P=0.0045), hot carcass weight (P=0.0045), cold carcass weight (P=0.0045)
and lean meat content (P<0.0001). Consequently, pigs showing fibrinous
pericarditis produced the lower (P<0.0001) percentage of „E“ class
carcasses, but the higher (P=0.0079) percentage of „R“ class carcasses. Pigs
without fibrinous pericarditis produced the better meat quality, with the
higher (P=0.0465) percentage of red, firm and nonexudative meat. In
contrast, the presence of fibrinous pericarditis in slaughtered pigs was
significantly associated with abnormally elevated final meat pH (P<0.0001),
high water-holding capacity (lower drip loss; P<0.0001) and unfavourable
dark colour (higher lightness and yellowness; P<0.0001). As a result, pigs
showing fibrinous pericarditis produced the highest percentage of dark, firm
and dry meat (P=0.0002). In conclusion, assessing fibrinous pericarditis at
the slaughterline has the potential to serve not only as an indirect
indicator of pig health and welfare on the farm of origin but also of growth
performance, carcass and pork quality.
Keywords: blood metabolites, heart lesions, pig health, pork quality
Project of the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation, Republic of Serbia, Grant no. 451-03-66/2024-03/200143
Show references
Almeida H.M., Mechler-Dreibi M.L., Sonálio K., Ferraz M.E.S., Storino G.Y., Rezende F.B., Maes D., Montassier H.J., de Oliveira L.G. 2020. Cytokine expression and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae burden in the development of lung lesions in experimentally inoculated pigs. Veterinary Microbiology, 244, 108647.
Bonde M., Toft N., Thomsen P.T., Sørensen, J.T. 2010. Evaluation of sensitivity and specificity of routine meat inspection of Danish slaughter pigs using Latent Class Analysis. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 94 (3-4), 165-169.
Bottacini M., Scollo A., Contiero B., Mazzoni C., Pace V., Gottardo, F. 2021. Prevalence of fibrinous pericarditis in heavy pigs (170 kg) and its association with other pluck lesions at slaughter inspection. The Veterinary Journal, 273, 105680.
Brewster V.R., Maiti H.C., Tucker A.W., Nevel A. 2017. Associations between EP-like lesions and pleuritis and post trimming carcass weights of finishing pigs in England. Livestock Science, 201, 1-4.
Buttenschøn J., Friis N.F., Aalbaek B., Jensen T.K., Iburg T., Mousing J. 1997. Microbiology and pathology of fibrinous pericarditis in Danish slaughter pigs. Journal of Veterinary Medicine Series A, 44(1 -‐21800)., 271
Ceccarelli M., Leprini E., Sechi P., Iulietto M.F., Grispoldi L., Goretti E, Cenci- Goga B.T. 2018. Analysis of the causes of the seizure and destruction of carcasses and organs in a slaughterhouse in central Italy in the 2010-2016 period. Italian Journal of Food Safety, 7(1), 6899.
Čobanović N., Vasilev D., Dimitrijević M., Teodorović V., Janković Lj., Karabasil N. 2017. Blood parameters, carcass and meat quality of slaughter pigs with and without liver milk spots. Biotechnology in Animal Husbandry, 33(4), 397-407.
Čobanović N., Jamnikar-Ciglenečki U., Kirbiš A., Križman M., Štukelj M., Karabasil N. 2019a. Impact of various housing conditions on the occurrence of pathological lesions in slaughtered pigs. Veterinarski Glasnik, 73(1), 17-29.
Čobanović N., Janković Lj., Vasilev D., Dimitrijević M., Teodorović V., Kureljušić B., Karabasil N. 2019b. Slaughterline records of various postmortem pathological lesions and their influence on carcass and meat quality in slaughtered pigs. Animal Science Journal, 90(11), 1475-1483.
Čobanović N., Stanković S.D., Dimitrijević M., Suvajdžić B., Grković N., Vasilev D., Karabasil, N. 2020. Identifying physiological stress biomarkers for prediction of pork quality variation. Animals, 10(4), 614.
Čobanović N., Stajković S., Kureljušić J., Žutić J., Kureljušić B., Stanković S.D., Karabasil, N. 2021. Biochemical, carcass and meat quality alterations associated with different degree of lung lesions in slaughtered pigs. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 188, 105269.
Čobanović, N., Suvajdžić, B., Vasilev, D., Karabasil, N. 2022. Ispitivanje zavisnosti između pojave fibrinoznog perikarditisa i drugih patomorfoloških promena, indeksa performansi i kvaliteta mesa i trupa zaklanih svinja [in Serbian]. In Book of abstracts of 33. Savetovanje Veterinara Srbije, Zlatibor, Serbia, 08-11. September 2022, 422-429.
Čobanović N., Čalović S., Suvajdžić B., Grković N., Stanković S.D., Radaković M., Spariosu K., Karabasil, N. 2024. Consequences of transport conditions on the welfare of slaughter pigs with different health status and RYR-1 genotype. Animals, 14(2), 191.
Dailidavičienė J., Januškevičienė G., Jukna V., Pockevičius A., Kerzienė S. 2008. Typically definable respiratory lesions and their influence on meat characteristics in pigs. Veterinarija ir Zootechnika, 43(65), 20-24.
Dailidavičienė J., Januškevičienė G., Zaborskienė G., Garmienė G. 2009a. Pork quality analysis according to different degree of lung lesions [in German]. Fleischwirtschaft, 89, 100-103.
Dailidavičienė J., Januškevičienė G., Milius J., Mieželienė A., Alenčikienė G. 2009b. Influence of lung pathology on pig carcasses’microbiological quality and sensory parameters. Bulletin of the Veterinary Institute in Pulawy, 53, 433-438.
Dalmau A., Fabrega E., Manteca X., Velarde A. 2014. Health and welfare management of pigs based on slaughter line records. Journal of Dairy, Veterinary & Animal Research, 1(3), 73-78.
Dalmau A., Nande A., Vieira-Pinto M., Zamprogna S., Di Martino G., Ribas J.C., Paranhos da Costa M., Halinen-Elemo K., Velarde A. 2016. Application of the Welfare Quality® protocol in pig slaughterhouses of five countries. Livestock Science, 193, 78-87.
Done S.H. 1991. Environmental factors affecting the severity of pneumonia in pigs. The Veterinary Record, 128(25), 582-586.
Elbers A.R.W., Tielen M.J.M., Snijders J.M.A., Cromwijk W.A.J., Hunneman W.A. 1992. Epidemiological studies on lesions in finishing pigs in the Netherlands. I. Prevalence, seasonality and interrelationship. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 14, 217-231.
European Commission. 2008. EC Regulation No 1249/2008 of 10 December 2008 laying down detailed rules on the implementation of the Community scales for the classification of beef, pig and sheep carcases and the reporting of prices thereof. Official Journal of the European Union, No. L3373-30.
Ferraz M.E.S., Almeida H.M.S., Storino G.Y., Sonálio K., Souza M.R., Moura C.A.A., Costa W.M.T., Lunardi L., Linhares D.C.L., de Oliveira L.G. 2020. Lung consolidation caused by Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae has a negative effect on productive performance and economic revenue in finishing pigs. Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 182, 105091.
Honikel K. 1999. Influence of chilling of pork carcasses on physical quality traits. National Pork Producers Council.
Harley S., More S., Boyle L., O’Connell N., Hanlon A. 2012. Good animal welfare makes economic sense: potential of pig abattoir meat inspection as a welfare surveillance tool. Irish Veterinary Journal, 65(1), 1-12.
Jaeger H.J., Pearce G.P., Tucker A.W., Wood J.L.N., Done S., Strugnell B., Williamson S., Woodger N., Burling J., Habernoll H., Dewhirst J. 2009. Pleurisy in Pigs: Associated risk factors and impact on health, welfare and performance 2005 ̶ 2008, Milton Keynes BPEX (British Pig Executive). http://www.bpex.org.uk/KTRandD/ResearchAndDevelopment/Pleurisy.aspx]. (accessed 13 September 2024)
Karabasil N., Čobanović N., Vučićević I., Stajković S., Becskei Z., Forgách P., Aleksić-Kovačević S. 2017. Association of the severity of lung lesions with carcass and meat quality in slaughter pigs. Acta Veterinaria Hungarica, 65, 354-365.
Klauke T.N., Piñeiro M., Schulze-Geisthövel S., Plattes S., Selhorst T., Petersen B. 2013. Coherence of animal health, welfare and carcass quality in pork production chains. Meat Science, 95, 704-711.
Koćwin-Podsiadła M., Krzęcio E., Przybylski W. 2006. Pork quality and methods of its evaluation-A review. Polish Journal of Food and Nutrition Sciences, 15(56), 241-248.
Leps J., Fries R. 2009. Incision of the heart during meat inspection of fattening pigs-A risk-profile approach. Meat Science, 81(1), 22-27.
Mathur P.K., Vogelzang R., Mulder H.A., Knol E.F. 2018. Genetic selection to enhance animal welfare using meat inspection data from slaughter plants. Animals, 8(2), 16.
Merialdi G., Dottori M., Bonilauri P., Luppi A., Gozio S., Pozzi P., Spaggiari B., Martelli P. 2012. Survey of pleuritis and pulmonary lesions in pigs at abattoir with a focus on the extent of the condition and herd risk factors. The Veterinary Journal, 193(1), 234-239.
Minkus, D., Schutte, A., von Mickwitz, G., Beutling, D. 2004. Lung health, meat content and meat ripening in pigs-defective lungs as a problem in meat inspection [in German]. Fleischwirtschaft, 84, 110-113.
National Pork Producers Council. 2000. Pork composition and quality assessment procedures. E. Berg (Ed.), National Pork Producers Council, Des Monica, Iowa, USA, 1-38.
National Research Council. 2012. Nutrient Requirements of Swine: Eleventh, Revised. Washington DC, The National Academies Press, 10, 13298.
Nielsen S.S., Nielsen G.B., Denwood M.J., Haugegaard J., Houe H. 2015. Comparison of recording of pericarditis and lung disorders at routine meat inspection with findings at systematic health monitoring in Danish finisher pigs. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica, 57, 1-8.
Nenadović K., Čobanović, N., Vučinić, M., Bugarski, D., Mikuš, T., Voslarova, E., Zupan Šemrov, M., Kjosevski, M. Karabasil, N. 2021. Welfare and meat quality of lambs. Veterinarski Glasnik, 75(2), 189-201.
Scollo A., Gottardo F., Contiero B., Mazzoni C., Leneveu P., Edwards S.A. 2017. Benchmarking of pluck lesions at slaughter as a health monitoring tool for pigs slaughtered at 170 kg (heavy pigs). Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 144, 20-28.
Šoltésová H., Nagyová V., Tóthová C., Nagy O. 2015. Haematological and blood biochemical alterations associated with respiratory disease in calves. Acta Veterinaria Brno, 84, 249-256.
SPSS. 2015. Statistical Package for Social Sciences for Windows (version S23.0), SPSS Inc.: Armonk, NY, USA.
Stärk K. D. 2000. Epidemiological investigation of the influence of environmental risk factors on respiratory diseases in swine-a literature review. The Veterinary Journal, 159(1), 37-56.
Tothova C., Nagy O., Kovac G. 2016. Serum proteins and their diagnostic utility in veterinary medicine: a review. Veterinární medicína, 61, 475-496.
Vítek M., Vališ L., David L., Pulkrábek J. 2011. Coefficients for the estimation of pig live weight. Research in Pig Breeding, 5, 51-54.
Welfare Quality®. 2009. Welfare Quality® assessment protocol for pigs (sow and piglets, growing and finishing pigs). Welfare Quality® Consortium, Lelystad, The Netherlands.