Osteochondrosis in six breeds of slaughter pigs

Summary

The severity and extent of osteochondral lesions have been examined, macroscopically, radiographically as well as histopathologically, in six different breeds of pigs (Belgian Landrace (B), Duroc (D), Dutch Landrace (N), Dutch Yorkshire (G), Hampshire (H) and Piétrain (P)). In these pigs three different levels of feeding were used.

Duroc pigs had significantly more severe lesions in the fore limbs than Dutch Landrace (N), Dutch Yorkshire (G), Hampshire (H) and Piétrain (P) pigs, while Belgian Landrace pigs (B) had significant more severe lesions than Dutch Yorkshire (G) pigs. The differences between breeds related more to the degree of severity of the lesions in the articular surfaces of the distal humerus and proximal radius‐ulna and in the distal ulnar growth plate than to the presence of the lesions per se. In the hind limbs Belgian Landrace pigs (B) had significantly more severe osteochondral lesions than all other breeds, while Dutch Landrace pigs (N) had significantly more severe lesions than Duroc (D), Dutch Yorkshire (G), Hampshire (H) and Piétran (P) pigs.

Pigs with the highest growth rate showed sginificantly more severe osteochondral lesions in the distal ulnar growth plate and in the medial fe,moral condyle than pigs with a more restricted growth rate.     

6个猪种FUT1基因的多态性分析

α(1,2)岩藻糖转移酶基因1(α-1,2-Fucosyltransferase gene,FUT1)是可以调节大肠杆菌F18侵染猪小肠、并引起仔猪水肿和腹泻的一个抗性基因。采用PCR-SSCP方法,检测了FUT1基因在大白猪、长白猪、杜洛克、马身猪、山西黑猪、晋汾白猪6个猪种中的多态性。结果表明:在大白猪、长白猪和杜洛克这3个引进品种中,存在A、B、C 3种单倍型,A单倍型的平均分布频率为0.58;而在地方品种马身猪及其培育品种山西黑猪和晋汾白猪中只发现了单倍型A。经测序比对发现B单倍型第5位碱基发生了C→A的转换,第145个碱基处发生了T→C的突变;而单倍型C的第372位碱基A发生缺失。大白和杜洛克2个种群Hardy-Weinberg不平衡,FUT1基因在国外引进猪种大白、长白、杜洛克种群多态性丰富。     

Osteochondrosis and arthrosis in pigs. 3. A comparison of the incidence in young animals of the Norwegian Landrace and Yorkshire breeds

An investigation concerning the occurrence of osteochondrosis and arthrosis in 2 materials totalling 63 pigs of the Landrace breed and 63 of the Yorkshire breed is described. The animals were bred under the same conditions of feeding and housing. The differences should therefore mainly be of genetic origin. Both breeds were highly improved, Landrace the most. In general, Yorkshire pigs showed a lower incidence and a less marked degree of osteochondrosis and arthrosis than Landrace pigs. Statistically significant differences (P < 0.01) were demonstrated in the distal epiphyseal plate of the ulna, in the intervertebral joints of the lumbar region and in the medial condyle of the femur in 1 of the materials. The Landrace pigs had longer bodies, broader hindquarters, shorter femurs, and the stifle had a different shape as compared with Yorkshire pigs. There thus seemed to be a connection between exterior features, joint and bone shape and the occurrence of joint lesions. Differences among litters within breed were also demonstrated.     

Ochratoxin A in blood of slaughter pigs

The global ochratoxin A contamination of Swedish feed cereals was studied by analysis of pig blood samples from 122 different herds. The samples were collected at seven Swedish slaughterhouses. The ochratoxin A analysis showed 21% of the samples to contain greater than or equal to 2 ng ochratoxin A per ml. Samples from Visby showed a significantly higher frequency of contamination compared with the rest of the country.     

Prevalence of pleurisy in pigs at slaughter

The mean (+/- sd) batch prevalence of pleura stripping of finished pigs going for slaughter in four abattoirs in eastern England was 0.15 +/- 0.04, and the average batch proportion of lungs totally condemned was 0.23 +/- 0.05. There was a significant positive correlation between the number of carcases requiring total lung condemnation and the number of carcases requiring pleura stripping. There was no significant differences between the type of producer, the herd size or the mean batch live weight and the prevalence of pleurisy, either within individual abattoirs or combining the data from the four abattoirs. There was considerable variation in the batch prevalence of pleurisy from the same producer, indicating the need to monitor a number of batches in order to determine the prevalence of pleurisy on a farm.     

Residues of azaperone and azaperol in slaughter pigs

An investigation was carried out to determine the residues of azaperone in slaughter pigs and pig meat products. The butyrophenone tranquillizer azaperone is frequently administered to pigs by intramuscular injection in order to reduce mortality and loss of meat quality resulting from transportation from the farm to the slaughter house. In the pig, following administration of azaperone as recommended by the manufacturer (0.4 mg/kg i.m.) residue concentrations of about 0.05 μg/g azaperone, and 0.20 μg/g azaperol (the main biotransformation product in the pig) were found in the kidneys; the kidneys proving to be the sampling organs of choice. Pasteurization and other technological procedures did not influence residues measurably. Toxicological evaluation suggests that the residues found do not per se constitute a danger to public health. None the less, the presence of any drug residue in meat or meat products is undesirable, and alternative, non-pharmacological approaches to the problems arising from transportation prior to slaughter should be considered.     

不同品种尕力巴犊牛屠宰试验对比研究

[目的]为研究不同品种尕力巴犊牛的生长发育,肉质特性。[方法]分别选择两品种犊牛各10d进行育肥,屠宰并测定分析其各项指标。[结果]6月龄尕力巴犊牛平均体重65.8±5.79kg,黄尕力巴犊牛71.85±3.7kg,屠宰率分别为44.468±3.98%;41.61±3.26%,净肉率分别为26.94±2.26%,28.53±2.38%。[结论]二者具有较好的屠宰率和净肉率,产肉性能良好。     

The electric stunning of pigs for slaughter

Electrical stunning is the most common stunning method in the FRG. Beside manual stunning with tongs (70-250 V) there are also automatic high-voltage stunning devices (400-1000 V) in use. In the FRG the maximally allowed stunning voltage is 250 V for manual working apparatus. Electrical stunning is acceptable from the animal point of view, if a minimal current of 1.2 ampere is reached, immediately after the beginning of the stunning operation. This current provokes an epileptic insult combined with unconsciousness. Immobilisation combined with stiffness can be reached with lower currents. The current, flowing during stunning operation, depends on both stunning voltage and resistance between electrodes and surface of the animal. Current curves were recorded during manual stunning operations with different kinds of tong and different voltages. It was found, that a stunning voltage lower than 250 V under practise conditions is not acceptable from the animal point of view, because 1.2 ampere were not reached within 1 second. Electrical stunning with 250 V is acceptable, when an exact positioning of the tongs is possible because of a short fixation of the pig. The following demands can be formulated for an effective electrical stunning of pigs: 1. pigs should be wet prior to stunning. 2. positioning of the tongs must be done in such a way that the brain lies on the shortest line between the two electrodes. 3. between electrodes and pig surface should be an intensive contact. 4. stunning voltage should be at least 250 V, better higher. 5. bleeding should be done not later than 20 seconds after the end of the stunning, the time between bleeding and scalding being at least 3 minutes.     

Osteochondrosis and arthrosis in pigs. II. Incidence in breeding animals

Joint and bone lesions in Norwegian breeding pigs are described on the background of an investigation involving 174 sows and 155 boars from 7 months to 4½ years old. Lesions, which consisted predominantly of arthrosis, degeneration of intervertebral discs, spondylosis and epiphyseal separations, were demonstrated frequently in both sexes. Osteochondrosis, a condition previously demonstrated frequently in slaughter pigs, had either completely healed, undergone repair or developed into an arthrosis by the time the animal reached an age of about 1½ years.Whereas a higher incidence of arthrosis of the intervertebral joints was found in boars than in sows, the reverse was true as regards degeneration of the intervertebral discs and anchylosing spondylosis. Possible reasons for this are discussed. Norwegian pigs show a higher incidence of lesions in the lumbar region of the vertebral column than has been described up to the present time in other countries.     

An evaluation of nonsuppurative joint disease in slaughter pigs

Fifty-two joints from pigs with nonsuppurative joint disease from a local abattoir were examined grossly, histologically, and microbiologically in order to establish macroscopic differences between degenerative arthropathy and arthritis due to an infectious organism. The joints were grouped grossly according to the type and severity of lesions of the synovial membrane and cartilage, and microscopically according to the severity of synovial membrane lesions. Osteochondrosis and Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae were the most common causes of nonsuppurative joint disease in the joints examined. The major macroscopic differences between these two arthropathies were in the nature and severity of the synovial and cartilaginous lesions and involvement of the lymph node draining the diseased joint. Typically, in osteochondrosis, the changes are feathery hypertrophy of villi, focal full-thickness cartilage buckles, ulcers or flaps, and no change in the draining lymph node, whereas in Erysipelothrix- caused arthritis, the villous hypertrophy is severe and polypoid in nature, there is diffuse erosion of articular cartilage, and the draining lymph node is consistently hypertrophic and often cystic.     

Streptococcus suis in slaughter pigs and abattoir workers.

The detection and identification of Streptococcus suis type 2 in 8.1% of 347 pig herds of southwestern Ontario revealed that the infection is widespread in this area. A herd suspected to be infected showed a carrier rate of 9.7% among the 62 animals sampled. These subclinical carriers represent a potential source of infection for slaughterhouse workers. From studies of contamination of hands and knives, it was concluded that eviscerators involved in removing the larynx and lungs from the carcasses have a significantly higher (p less than or equal to 0.05) risk of exposure to Streptococcus suis than other abattoir workers.     

Haematological and clinicochemical blood profiles in slaughter pigs.

In a cohort study, 40 pig finishing herds were selected: twenty pig herds with a low and twenty pig herds with a high prevalence of several pathological lesions recorded at slaughter in a six-month period before the start of the study. Blood samples were taken from 20 pigs per herd at the end of the finishing period to investigate haematological and clinicochemical profiles. There was only a significant difference in serum albumin concentration between the low and high lesion prevalence groups. There were distinct differences in blood profiles between pig herds, but also between batches of pigs within a herd, housed in different compartments. Differences between castrated males and gilts were also demonstrated with respect to mean values of the blood variables haemoglobin, iron, copper, beta-globulin, eosinophils and segmented neutrophils. However, the differences were not of a biologically important magnitude. The mean values of the blood variables pepsinogen and lymphocytes differed significantly between pig herds from the two participating integration groups. Pigs with a higher albumin concentration, a lower gamma-globulin concentration, a higher copper concentration and a higher creatine kinase activity in serum showed a higher daily weight gain.     

Survey on Salmonella prevalence in slaughter pigs from Saskatchewan

A study on slaughter pigs from Saskatchewan detected Salmonella organisms in 12.5% and 5.2% of cecal content and ileocaecal lymph node samples, respectively. Cecal content prevalence was associated with larger farms and longer lairage periods. Antimicrobial resistance was detected in 41.5% of the isolates. Salmonella Enteritidis was the second most prevalent serotype.