At all times prior to slaughter pigs may experience stress from a range of handling practices, such as fasting, loading and transport, mixing, and interaction with humans. These factors can affect the welfare of pigs, and carcass and meat quality both individually and collectively. Preslaughter stress is both an animal welfare and a meat quality issue. Behavioral and physiological studies have revealed that poor handling practices at the farm, during transport and at the slaughter plant have an adverse effect to pigs and may result in loss of profits due to animal losses during transport and in lairage. Also, poor preslaughter handling can also lead to losses in carcass value as a result of reduced yield, the presence of lesions and bacterial contamination, and meat quality defects (e.g., pale, soft, exudative and dark, firm, dry pork). These economic losses can be limited by improving the design of facilities, controlling the environmental conditions, and implementing training programs for the correct animal handling at any stage preslaughter. The objective of this review was to review research findings on the effects of preslaughter practices on ante-mortem behavioral and physiological response in pigs, including muscle metabolism, and to provide recommendations aimed at limiting the impact of preslaughter handling on animal losses and pork quality.

Damage to the surface of the carcass after dehairing is a serious commercial problem, since it decreases the grade and subsequently the value of the carcass. In many countries, the incidence of skin damage on the carcass has not been considered to be a problem with high priority, as it seems to be easily solved by just trimming off the skin. However, the presence of an haematoma in the underlying tissue and its negative influence on meat quality must be taken into account. Some European Union (EU) countries are aiming at reducing the incidence of blemished carcasses in order to safeguard the image of the national pork sector for both domestic and exporting markets. Major factors responsible for the incidence of skin damage on the carcass are fighting among mixed groups of pigs and poor handling during the preslaughter stages. Recognition of the economical impact of these two factors on the slaughter pigs may lead to more welfare-friendly handling systems and to reduction in the practice of preslaughter mixing of animals. Key words: Handling, skin damage, animal welfare, carcass and meat quality, pigs