Development of a gastrointestinal parasite infection model to study chronic stress in livestock and impact on meat quality

Abstract

Livestock stressors are known to have an impact on both animal welfare and meat quality. As a model of acute stress, we have previously demonstrated the impact of pre-slaughter simulated mustering on several important meat quality markers in lamb, including high pH [1, 2]. To examine a chronic stressor in livestock, we have adapted a model of a sub-clinical infection with gastrointestinal nematode(GIN) parasite infection in sheep. Six month old ram lambs were challenged with a mixed infection of Trichostrongylus colubriformis and Teladorsagia circumcincta (Treatment group, n=6), which are common gastrointestinal parasites frequently encountered in pasture, and compared with those without parasites (Control, n=6) (AEC2023-71). The goal is to understand how parasite infection can impact on inflammatory response as a proxy for animal welfare, along with determining if parasite infection has an impact on meat quality markers. We will also use an emerging metabolomics method, rapid evaporative ionisation mass spectrometry, to provide complementary analytical information on changes to organ and meat metabolite and lipid composition. This data will contribute towards defining and designing further investigations on chronic stressors in livestock. In future, characterised biomarkers of stressors could be used for enhancing animal welfare and confirm the relationship between minimising pre-slaughter stressors and improving the consistency of meat quality.