Stress on pig farms

Abstract

Pig stress syndrome (PSS) is an increasingly common disease. The disease is the result of intensive selection for greater fleshiness, which resulted in a point mutation on the 6th chromosome. The disease is an inherited autosomal recessive, neuromuscular disorder of fattening animals. Highly productive pig breeds are most susceptible to stress. The appearance of the disease is influenced by stressogenic factors, and the disease passes in a preacute or acute course. Death occurs within 24 hours from the moment of action of the stressor, while the dead body stiffness occurs very quickly, i.e. within 5 minutes. In pigs prone to stress syndrome after the action of external stimuli, rapid glycogenolysis occurs in the muscles and abundant production of lactic acid, as a result of which the muscles become pale, soft and watery. This kind of meat is not suitable for processing in slaughterhouses, which causes losses in production.