Animal welfare of barrows with different antemortem lairage times without food

Abstract

This study evaluated the effect of five different periods of antemortem lairage without food on the energy metabolism, gas exchange, mineral and blood acid-base balances of 1174 hybrid barrows, which were divided into six treatment groups according to the lairage period: 130 barrows were considered for the evaluation of the baseline levels (G_B); 214 had 0 h of lairage (R₀); 228 had 4 h of lairage (R₄); 204 had 8 h of lairage (R₈); 192 had 12 h of lairage (R₁₂); and 206 had 24 h (R₂₄). In all groups, increasing lairage periods triggered a significant reduction (P < 0.05) in pH, accumulation of lactic acid and percentage of hematocrit. These findings led to the conclusion that antemortem lairage periods longer than 4 h cause hyperglycaemia, hypercalcaemia, hyperlactataemia, hyperkalaemia, hyponatraemia, acidosis, and more severe dehydration in barrows.