Effect of transportation at high ambient temperatures on physiological responses, carcass and meat quality characteristics in two age groups of omani sheep

摘要: The aim of this study was to determine the effects short road transportation in an open truck during hot season on live weight shrink, physiological responses, and carcass meat quality Omani sheep at 6 12 months age. Thirty-six male sheep, 18 each age group, were used. Age groups assigned randomly transported not-transported groups. group slaughterhouse day slaughter covering a distance approximately 100 km. average temperature 37°C. kept lairage commercial with ad libitum feed water for 48 h prior slaughter. Blood samples collected from before loading via jugular venipuncture assess their response transport relation hormonal levels. Animals weighed just onto after shrinkage. Muscle ultimate pH, expressed juice, cooking loss percentage, WB-shear force value, sarcomere length colour L*, a*, b* measured longissimus dorsi, biceps femoris semitendinosus muscles 24 postmortem 1-3°C. Live shrinkage losses 1.09 1.52 kg month respectively. had significantly (p<0.05) higher cortisol, adrenaline, noradrenaline, dopamine concentration levels both ages than sheep. Transportation influenced characteristics three muscles. pH shear values higher, while CIE b*, juice lower significant effect These results indicated that short-term pre-slaughter high ambient temperatures can cause noticeable changes muscle metabolism responses