Effect of different season and transport time on broiler stress and meat quality

In order to investigate the interaction effect of season and transport time on broilers stress and meat quality, total 126 white feather broilers were assigned to 6 treatments randomly.The study design included season (summer, winter) and transport time (0.5, 3 and 5h, respectively) , and the analysis of blood and meat were performed after broilers were slaughtered on commercial line.The data showed that the level of ACTH, CORT, CK, LDH increased with prolonged transport time in summer, the broilers suffered the greatest stress and the content of GLU was lowest after 5h transportion, however, the breast meat showed a maximum L*value, the lowest pH value and the worst water holding capacity (WHC) after 0.5h transportion in summer.In winter transportion, ACTH, CORT, CK, LDH reached the highest level after transporting 3h, and then decreased as the transporting continue, and the trend of other parameters was similar to these in summer transportion.Besides, breast meat from broilers slaughtered during summer transportion exhibited a paler and lower pH, higher drip and cook losses, and higer level of plasma stress parameters.In conclusion, the effects of season and transport time on broiler stress and meat quality was great, reasonable transport time should be chosen for different season to relieve broiler transport stress and improve meat quality.