Effects of pre-slaughter ascorbic acid administration on some physiological indicators and meat quality traits of road transport stressed lambs and kids

This study determined pre-slaughter ascorbic acid (AA) administration on some physiological indicators, slaughter-carcass characteristics and meat quality traits of road transport stressed lambs and kids. The animal material consisted of 18 six-month-old Norduz male lambs and 18 six-month-old Saanen Hair Goat kids in total 36 animals. Eighteen lambs and eighteen kids were divided into 3 groups as follow T0: not transportation, T3: 3 h transportation, T3+C: 125 mg/kg AA administration prior to 3 h transportation. The live weight loss and rectal temperature were similar while there were significant differences among groups for some biochemical parameters both lambs andkids. Cortisol and glucose concentrations significantly increased by transportation (p < 0.05) in lambs and kids. AA had significant effect on serum cortisol and glucose of lambs. T3+C and T0 lambs were found similar whereas T3 lambs had higher glucose concentrations than T0 lambs (p < 0.01). However, both T3 and T3+C kids had higher serum cortisol and glucose concentration than T0 kids and the effect of AA administration on serum cortisol and glucose were found insignificant. Oxidative status in lambs and kids, as determined by serum malondialdehyde levels, did not differ among groups. AA had limited effect on MDA levels. No differences were determined at slaughter and carcass characteristics among groups in lambs and kids. However, some meat quality traits were negatively influenced by transportation. Muscle glycogen content of T3 lambs was significantly lower (p < 0.01) than T0 and T3+C lambs while ultimate pH in T3 and T3+C lambs tended to be higher than T0 lambs (p = 0.06). Moreover, muscle glycogen content was found significantly lower (p<0.01) and ultimate pH was higher in T3 and T3+C kids (p<0.05). T3 and T3+C groups had darker meat than T0 groups both in lambsand kids whereas other color parameters and water-holding capacity were similar among groups. The effect of AA on meat toughness were found significant and shear force value (WBSF; kg) in T0 lambs was lower than that of T3 lambs (p < 0.01). Overall, 3 h transportation altered levels of some physiological stress indicators and negatively affected meat quality traits. The administration of AA to lambs prior to transportation could partly reduce the adverse effects of road transportation stress.