Skip to main content
ARS Home » Midwest Area » West Lafayette, Indiana » Livestock Behavior Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #185323
Title: RESTING PIGS ON TRANSPORT TRAILERS: POTENTIAL INTERVENTION TO REDUCE SALMONELLA PREVALENCE AT SLAUGHTER?

Author
item Rostagno, Marcos
item HURD, H - IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY
item MCKEAN, J - IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY

Submitted to: Research Workers in Animal Diseases Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 12/5/2005
Publication Date: 7/20/2006
Citation: Rostagno, M.H., Hurd, H.S., Mckean, J.D. 2006. Resting pigs on transport trailers: potential intervention to reduce salmonella prevalence at slaughter? Research Workers in Animal Diseases Conference Proceedings. Paper No. 85.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Prior to slaughter, pigs are usually held for at least two hours to recover from the stress of transport, improve meat quality, and maintain a constant supply for the slaughter line. However, recent research has shown that much pre-harvest Salmonella infection occurs immediately before slaughter during this rest period in the contaminated abattoir holding pens. Intervention strategies to reduce the occurrence of Salmonella infections during the pre-slaughter holding are necessary, in order to reduce the number of pigs carrying the bacteria into the slaughter line, increasing the risk for pork and pork products contamination. The objective of this study was to evaluate a potential intervention strategy to reduce the prevalence of Salmonella-positive pigs at slaughter, which consisted of resting (or holding) pigs prior to slaughter on their transport vehicle, instead of in the abattoir holding pen. A total of 120 animals were included in the experiment, divided into 4 replicates (n=30 pigs per replicate). Upon arrival at the abattoir, 15 randomly chosen pigs were unloaded, and moved to a holding pen, whereas the remaining 15 pigs stayed in the transport trailer. After approximately 1.5 hour of resting, both groups were slaughtered, and samples collected. Samples collected included; distal ileum portion (10cm), cecal content (10g), and ileocecal lymph node. Results showed higher Salmonella recovery rates (p<0.05) from pigs held in the abattoir pens (40.7% versus 13.3%). This study demonstrates that, except for unloading logistics, the possibility of resting pigs on the transport vehicle has the potential to decrease Salmonella levels entering the abattoir.