Effect of the halothane gene on pre-slaughter mortality in two Spanish commercial pig abattoirs
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| Category | Journal Articles |
|---|---|
| Abstract |
A total of 107 ear samples from all the pigs that died during transport or lairage at two commercial abattoirs in Spain were collected during two months (February and July 2000), in order to determine their halothane genotype (NN, Nn or nn). The frequencies of the three halothane genotypes among dead pigs were significantly different (P<0.001), being 4.7, 24.3 and 71.0% for NN, Nn and nn individuals, respectively. The frequencies of preslaughter deaths within each genotype were estimated to be 0.02, 0.09 and 2.29% for NN, Nn and nn genotypes, respectively. According to these results, the removal of both nn and Nn genotypes would give rise to an eleven-fold reduction in the preslaughter mortality rate (from 0.22 to 0.02%). It is therefore suggested that, from an animal welfare point of view, the elimination of the halothane gene in existing breeding schemes would have a major beneficial impact. |
| Date | 2002 |
| Publication Title | Animal Welfare |
| Volume | 11 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Pages | 449-452 |
| ISBN/ISSN | 0962-7286 |
| Language | English |
| Author Address | Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentaries, Centre de Tecnologia de la Carn, Monells, Spain. xavier.manteca@uab.es |
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