# Contents of Macro- and Microelements in Blood Serum and Breast Muscle of Turkey Subjected to Pre-Slaughter Transport for Various Distances

## TL;DR

This study examines how pre-slaughter transport affects the levels of nutrients in turkey blood and breast muscle, finding negative impacts and sex-based differences.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into how transport distance before slaughter alters macro- and micronutrient levels in turkeys.

## Key findings

- Pre-slaughter transport negatively affects macro- and microelement content in turkey blood serum and breast muscle.
- Sex-based differences in nutrient levels were observed in turkeys subjected to transport.
- Transport distances of 100, 200, and 300 km all caused significant changes in element concentrations.

## Abstract

Simple Summary: Poultry can be exposed to a number of adverse stimuli during the pre-slaughter handling. Noise, movement, lack of access to water and feed, change in habitat, disruption of flock hierarchy or environmental conditions can lead to adverse changes in the bird’s body. A significant increase in these factors can cause disturbances in the body’s homeostasis. These changes may be reflected in meat quality. Therefore, there is a need to assess the effect of pre-slaughter turnover on meat quality. In this study, the effects of pre-slaughter treatments on changes in macro- and micronutrient content were analyzed.

In this study, the effect of pre-slaughter handling on the content of macro- and micronutrients in blood serum and in the breast muscle of turkeys was assessed. Four different variants of pre-slaughter handling were used in the research: no transport (N-T), transport for a distance of 100 km (T-100), transport for a distance of 200 km (T-200), and transport for a distance of 300 km (T-300). In each of them, 30 female and 30 male turkeys were used. Blood was collected from the birds before slaughter, and samples of the pectoral muscle were collected after slaughter. In the obtained biological material, the content of Mg, P, Ca, Fe, Na and K was analyzed. On the basis of the obtained research results, it can be concluded that the pre-slaughter handling negatively affects the content of macro- and microelements both in the blood serum and in the pectoral muscles of experimental turkeys. Additionally, differences due to the sex of birds were observed.