Papers by Miranda-de la Lama
REDVET. Revista electrónica de Veterinaria
Fish Physiology and Biochemistry, 2013
This work investigates the changes in the morphological traits, body composition, body fat and ox... more This work investigates the changes in the morphological traits, body composition, body fat and oxidative stress of Sparus aurata under two stress conditions: a low weekly exposure to the pesticide Diuron and chronic handling stress. The fish exposed to handling stress showed lower values in the morphological traits and perivisceral fat, whereas chemical stress induced a decrease in the percentage of muscle and carcase and an increase in the percentage of spleen and hepatosomatic index. The two stress situations produced changes in the FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power) levels in all organs studied with a particularly marked response for Diuron in the gill. No significant differences in the ROS (reactive oxygen species) level were found for the digestive tract or the gill. In muscle, only Diuron produced a significant increase in ROS, while in liver, both treatments increased the ROS levels. This supports the oxidative stress sensitivity to chemical stress and shows that also could be an appropriate indicator of handling stress. The morphological indexes and body components examined could be practical and easy welfare indicators. Nevertheless, further works must be needed to use under the production conditions in fish farms.
Small Ruminant Research, 2010
The domestic goat is a sociable, inquisitive, and intelligent species, which has been used for it... more The domestic goat is a sociable, inquisitive, and intelligent species, which has been used for its meat, milk, skin, and fur since it was first domesticated ca. 10,000 years ago. Although it exhibits a wide range of behaviours, the domesticated goat has been the subject of relatively few behavioural studies. In domestic goats, the opportunity to express certain social behaviours can be limited by captivity and management systems, especially in modern production systems, where goats are reared intensively under high stocking densities, sexual segregation, early separation of kids from their mothers, frequent regrouping, and manipulation during critical periods, including gestation and weaning. To better understand the requirements of this species and to identify possible tools for the detection of early modifications in natural behaviours that might indicate poor welfare and the establishment of positive human-animal interactions, this review provides a detailed description of goat social behaviour. Practical recommendations arising from observations of goat social behaviour are provided in the conclusions.
Small Ruminant Research, 2015
The effect of straw on the fatty acid composition and sensory aspects of the longissimus muscle w... more The effect of straw on the fatty acid composition and sensory aspects of the longissimus muscle was analysed in 24 entire Rasa Aragonesa male lambs (weaned at 45 days) housed for 28 days in two pens (0.90 m 2 per lamb, initial weight 17.7 ± 0.70 kg) until reaching 88 days of age. One group received wheat straw for bedding and forage, whilst the other group had none. Instrumental meat quality variables were similar in both treatments (P > 0.05). Lambs with straw bedding presented a higher proportion of C18:0, whereas lambs without straw presented a higher proportion of C15:0 and C17:1 (P ≤ 0.05), which might indicate a ruminal change. Of the 11 sensory attributes evaluated, none were significantly affected by treatment (P > 0.05). However, overall liking tended to be higher for meat from the lambs with straw than without straw (P = 0.09). The results from this study suggest that the deprivation of wheat straw during the fattening period has a slight effect on the variables analysed and that the lack of straw does not negatively affect the meat quality.
Small Ruminant Research, 2015
The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file. All in-text references underlined in b... more The user has requested enhancement of the downloaded file. All in-text references underlined in blue are added to the original document and are linked to publications on ResearchGate, letting you access and read them immediately.
Animal Genetic Resources/Ressources génétiques animales/Recursos genéticos animales, 2015
Meat science, Jan 24, 2015
We analysed the effect of a modified pen using a wooden screen with flaps and cereal straw as for... more We analysed the effect of a modified pen using a wooden screen with flaps and cereal straw as forage and bedding, on behaviour, stress response, performance and meat quality variables of lambs housed in feedlots. Sixty male lambs were placed in enriched (ESF) or conventional (CO) pens (3pens/treatment, 10lambs/pen). The CO environment was barren. The ESF lambs showed a great preference for the provided items, which encouraged more natural and richer behaviour, reducing stereotypies and lamb aggressions, and increasing affiliations (P≤0.05), which improves group cohesion. However, ESF lambs also developed a more natural coping style to the handling, evidenced by the higher cortisol levels (65.4 vs. 43.8nmol/L) and a higher eye temperature as response to the reactivity test (38.1 vs. 37.8°C). The ESF lambs had a higher (P≤0.05) slaughter weight (27.2 vs. 26.3kg), conformation score (7.38 vs. 6.07) and pH24 (5.63 vs. 5.56) but lower cooking losses (12.9 vs. 14.9%) than CO lambs.
Animal Genetic Resources/Ressources génétiques animales/Recursos genéticos animales, 2014
Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research, 2015
bedding substrates welfare social behaviors stereotypies meat quality a b s t r a c t
Tropical Animal Health and Production, 2011
The objective of the current study was to analyse the effects of double transport and season on s... more The objective of the current study was to analyse the effects of double transport and season on sensorial aspects of lamb's meat quality in dry climates. A total of 144 lambs were sampled in a 3 × 2 × 2 factorial design, testing three types of double transport along the residence time at a pre-slaughter classification centre or CC (0, 7 and 28 days) and two seasons (summer and winter), with two replicates in each season. Meat from the M. longissimus was analysed in terms of pH and WHC and tasted by a trained sensory panel in terms of lamb odour intensity, tenderness, juiciness, lamb flavour intensity, fat flavour intensity, liver flavour intensity, metallic flavour intensity and overall liking. Meat sensorial quality traits were not significantly affected by double transport. Season had a significant (P<0.001) effect on all variables analysed, except for lamb flavour intensity and overall liking. Interactions between the fixed effects were not significant, with the exception of tenderness. Season significantly affects several sensorial variables, and they seem to be independent of double transport, with the exception of tenderness.
Tropical Animal Health and Production, 2011
This study determined whether transporting lambs on paved (PR) or unpaved roads (UR) for 3 h had ... more This study determined whether transporting lambs on paved (PR) or unpaved roads (UR) for 3 h had an effect on plasma stress indicators (cortisol, lactate, glucose, creatine kinase [CK], red blood cells, white blood cells, hematocrit, and neutrophil/lymphocyte [N/L] ratio) and instrumental meat quality (pH24, bruising score, water holding capacity [WHC], color, and texture). A total of 48 Rasa Aragonesa male lambs were used that were approximately 100 days old (12.5 kg±1.64, carcass weight). The results suggest that transport on unpaved roads had a significant influence on physiological and hematological stress parameters. Road type had a significant effect on all variables, except for white and red blood cells, and hematocrit levels. The UR lambs had significantly higher (at least p≤0.01) cortisol, lactate, glucose, and CK levels and a higher N/L ratio than PR lambs. Meat from UR lambs had some dark-cutting characteristics, with a darker color, higher ultimate pH, and higher tenderness values than PR.
Tropical Animal Health and Production, 2012
Slaughter plants have been undergoing radical transformations in recent years due to the need to ... more Slaughter plants have been undergoing radical transformations in recent years due to the need to increase efficiency and incorporate new technologies for the improvement of the infrastructure, animal welfare, and product quality. The aim of this study was to assess the cattle welfare status during the unloading, lairage, stunning, bleeding and quantify bruising incidence at a commercial slaughter plant in the northwest of Mexico. We monitored 8,118 cattle during the unloading, lairage, stunning, bleeding, and carcass bruise incidence. Our results showed that in the unloading stage, 2% of the cattle vocalized, 5% were prodded with an electric goad, and 4% either slipped or fell. In the lairage stage, 12% of the animals vocalized, 80% prodded with an electric goad, and 8% of the animals slipped or fell. In the stunning stage, 10% of the animals vocalized, 67% prodded with an electric goad, and 15% of the animals slipped or fell. Ninety-five percent of the animals were stunned with a single shot, and 51% of the animals were effectively desensitized. Ninety-two percent of the carcasses had some type of bruise. Although the slaughter plant had adequate infrastructure and stringent operational standards, in all of the stages except unloading handling had an impact on the welfare of the animals being slaughtered.
Small Ruminant Research, 2012
Most livestock production systems, animals are classified by sex, age or weight at different time... more Most livestock production systems, animals are classified by sex, age or weight at different times in their productive life. In recent years, the pre-slaughter logistics for lamb production has been modified to include an intermediate step between the farm and the abattoir at classification centres (CC), where animals are classified by weight upon arrival and finished to the appropriate slaughter
Small Ruminant Research, 2013
Small Ruminant Research, 2010
This study identifies critical points of lamb transport to slaughter in Spain with regard to hand... more This study identifies critical points of lamb transport to slaughter in Spain with regard to handling before, during and after transport. Special emphasis was given to the effect of classification centres (i.e. temporary feedlots). Farmers (n=60), hauliers (n=30), abattoirs (n=20) and classification centres (n=11) were surveyed. Data were collected on methods and facilities used for loading and unloading, transport times,
Orthopaedics and Trauma, 2013
Meat Science, 2014
We analysed the effect of enriched housing on the sensory meat quality and fatty acid composition... more We analysed the effect of enriched housing on the sensory meat quality and fatty acid composition of longissimus muscle in 60 entire Rasa Aragonesa lambs, housed indoors for 5 weeks in six pens (10 lambs/pen, 0.95 m(2)/lamb, initial weight 17.13±0.18 kg and carcass mean 12.23±0.23 kg); three control pens (barren) and three enriched pens (straw, platform with ramps and a small ramp). The final weight, carcass weight, fatness scores and cooking losses of meat from enriched lambs (EG) were higher and pH 24 was lower (P ≤ 0.05). The EG lambs had more C18:0 and total SFA (P ≤ 0.05). Lamb odour and grass odour were more intense in EG (P ≤ 0.05). Overall liking was higher for EG (P ≤ 0.05) and associated with tenderness (P ≤ 0.0001). The results suggest that environmental enrichment can have effects on fatty acid composition and sensory meat quality.
Meat Science, 2013
This study analyzes retailer attitude towards animal welfare in Spain, and how this attitude has ... more This study analyzes retailer attitude towards animal welfare in Spain, and how this attitude has changed over recent years (2006-2011). Retailers were concerned about animal welfare issues but a declining trend is observed recently, probably due to the financial crisis. The concern about animal welfare was affected by sex, with women retailers expressing a more positive attitude towards animal welfare issues than men. Retailers, based on their experience, perceive a low level of willingness to pay more for welfare friendly products (WFP) on behalf of their customers. This fact is reflected in the sales of the WFP, which declined from 2006 to 2011. The main reason for consumers to buy WFP, according to retailer perception, is organoleptic quality, with improved welfare being second. The results obtained provide a pessimistic picture in relation to the current market positioning of WFP, which is probably a consequence of market contraction.
Meat Science, 2014
New developments in livestock transport within the pre-slaughter chain are discussed in terms of ... more New developments in livestock transport within the pre-slaughter chain are discussed in terms of three logistic nodes: origin, stopovers and slaughterhouse. Factors as transport cost, haulier, truck specifications, micro-environment conditions, loading density, route planning, vehicle accidents and journey length are discussed as well as causes of morbidity, mortality, live weight and carcass damage. Taking into account current trends towards increased transport times, logistics stopovers and mixed transport, there is a need to develop systems of evaluation and decision-making that provide tools and protocols that can minimize the biological cost to animals, which may have been underestimated in the past.
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Papers by Miranda-de la Lama