EFFECT OF DOUBLE TRANSPORTS AND SEASON ON MEAT QUALITY TRAITS IN LIGHT LAMBS IN SPAIN1

摘要

IntroductionTransport from farm to abattoir is a critical point in meat production systems (Escos et al. 2006). Animal welfare is also a growing concern in Europe, and, when respected, can help to provide additional value to the final price of the product (Maria et al., 2006). In the Spanish region of Aragón (NE Spain), the lamb meat production system includes an intermediate step between the farm and the abattoir: cooperative classification centres. Most animals are loaded at the farm, unloaded at feed lots called classification centres and loaded again to be transported to the abattoir. If lambs do not weigh enough upon arrival, they are kept in the classification centre until they reach the proper slaughter live weight (28 kg). This structure of the production system introduces new risk factors (i.e. novel environment, mixing groups with social stress or double transportation) that may compromise animal welfare and meat quality. The aim of this research was to assess the effect of three different types of double transports and season on instrumental meat quality traits in light lambs of the Rasa Aragonesa breed in the Aragón Region (NE Spain).