Changes in blood constituents of swine transported for 8 or 16 h to an Abattoir

The effects of two transportation periods on physio- metabolic hemodynamic changes and gaseous exchange in commercial swine during transportation to the slaughterhouse was studied in 684 pigs, 357 barrows and 327 gilts, transported in 2 groups for 8 and 16 h. Transportation caused an increase of oxygen consumption and body temperature, a decrease in pH, lactic acid accumulation. Both transportation periods caused higher than normal plasma glucose levels, lactic acidosis and evidence of dehydration. The linear regression analysis for pigs transported for 8 h indicates that the PO2, lactate and Ca++ variables correlated negatively with the PCO2. Whilst the animals that were transported for 16 h had negative correlations between glucose, and calcium, hematocrit, lactate and potassium levels. It was concluded that regardless of transport time acidosis, hypocapnia, hypoxaemia, hypernatraemia, hypercalcaemia, hyperglycemia, lactacidemia and increased hematocrit levels occurred.