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Query: UMLS:C0849640 (skin damage)
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Eight groups of five farmed red deer were transported by road for three hours, after which they were either slaughtered immediately (TO) or held in lairage for three, six or 18 hours (T3, T6 and T18). Liveweight loss increased with lairage time but hot carcase weight was unaffected. Deer spent much of the initial period in lairage standing stationary in 'alert' postures. After eight to 10 hours the proportions of time spent in various postures (standing stationary, moving and lying down) were similar to pre-journey values. None of the blood components associated with dehydration (packed cell volume, osmolality, total protein and sodium) changed significantly with lairage time. Compared with T0 deer, plasma creatine kinase activity was significantly decreased in T18 deer. Lairage time had no effect on skin damage, bruising or muscle glycogen content, although liver glycogen content increased with longer lairage time. Although lairage time had a statistically significant effect on muscle pHu (with T6 deer having the lowest values), the differences were small and none of the carcases had a pHu greater than 6-0.
Vet Rec 1997 Jan 04
PMID:Effects of the duration of lairage following transportation on the behaviour and physiology of farmed red deer. 900 74

The responses of pigs to being driven and mixed together in lairage were investigated. Five groups of six and five groups of seven 70 kg pigs were transported for 40 minutes on a lorry and then subjected to one of the following treatments: two groups were driven down a passage; four groups (A to D) were mixed together for one hour (A and B together, and C and D together); and, four groups were driven down the passage and then mixed ('combined treatment'). The pigs' behaviour was recorded, skin damage was scored and saliva samples were taken for analysis of cortisol. The initial journey increased the pigs' salivary concentration of cortisol. Their behaviour while being driven was not correlated with the concentrations of cortisol after they were driven and cortisol concentrations did not increase relative to post-transport levels. The frequency and duration of fighting when they were mixed were positively correlated with their level of aggression in the home pen and with the increase in concentrations of cortisol when they were mixed. One hour after they had been mixed, the concentrations of cortisol had decreased relative to post-transport levels. After the combined treatment, the correlations observed for the mixing treatment were absent, and the concentrations of cortisol increased relative to post-transport levels. Skin damage was greatest after the groups of pigs were mixed. The responses observed indicate that the combined effects of driving and mixing, which are very common in lairage, were greater than the effects of driving or mixing alone.
Vet Rec 1998 Aug 29
PMID:Effects of simulated lairage conditions on the physiology and behaviour of pigs. 977 70

Pigs from three farms were deprived of food for up to one hour, 12 hours or 18 hours before being sent for slaughter. In lairage, the animals' behaviour was monitored, and at slaughter a blood sample was collected and analysed for cortisol, lactate and creatine phosphokinase, potential indicators of stress and physical activity. The carcases were assessed for skin damage as an index of fighting, and rigor in the hind leg as an indicator of stress and/or fatigue. Measurements were also made of cold carcase weight, backfat thickness and liver glycogen concentration. General activity was very high on entry to the lairage pen. Drinking and mounting occurred almost immediately. Fighting developed after an exploratory period, and could last up to 60 minutes. There were large differences in the behaviour of pigs from the three farms. Pigs from farm A fought frequently but showed little mounting activity, whereas pigs from farm C were involved in mounting but little fighting. The period of food deprivation had no effect on average skin damage or rigor score, but the frequency of carcases with the highest scores was different The pigs deprived of food for up to an hour had the lowest incidence of severe skin damage and high rigor scores. Boars had a higher incidence of severe skin damage but a lower incidence of carcases with a high rigor score than gilts. Liver glycogen was almost completely depleted in the pigs deprived of food for 12 and 18 hours and was lower in the pigs deprived for up to an hour than in animals fed immediately before slaughter. The period of food deprivation had no effect on the levels of cortisol, creatine phosphokinase or lactate in the blood.
Vet Rec 1999 Nov 27
PMID:Relationship between food deprivation before transport and aggression in pigs held in lairage before slaughter. 1061 8

Plastic spectacles are often fitted to pheasants in laying pens to reduce feather pecking and egg eating. This study examined the effects of spectacles on the physiological condition and behaviour of pheasants in harem and flock laying pens. In 2006 and 2007, data were collected from 21 game farms across England. On each site, two identical pens were randomly allocated a treatment, with or without spectacles. The physiological condition of pheasants in each treatment pen was assessed before and after the laying season. In flock pens, the behaviour of spectacled and non-spectacled pheasants was also assessed weekly. Detailed records of egg collections and mortality were also kept. Spectacles had no effect on the behaviour of male pheasants but affected the behaviour of females by reducing pecking and increasing head shaking/scratching. Although spectacles halved feather damage in females, and at least halved incidences of skin damage in both sexes, they increased bill and nostril damage in females while causing no detectable damage in males. Egg collections and mortality rates did not differ between spectacled and non-spectacled pens.
Vet Rec 2014 Feb 22
PMID:The effects of plastic spectacles on the condition and behaviour of pheasants. 2442 Aug 72