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Abstract
The objectives of these studies were to collect and quantify three-axis acceleration data from six locations within commercial pig transport trailers during summer and determine if electronic muscle stimulation is a valid new methodology to replicate physical activity and estimate muscle fatigue using electromyography. Data indicated that pigs transported in the bottom deck were exposed to hotter temperatures than pigs in the top deck of trailers during all stages of transportation. Data also indicated that pigs on the bottom deck were exposed to greater horizontal accelerations (x- and y-axis). For the second objective, data indicated that electronic muscle stimulus replicates physical activity and stimulates muscle fatigue, which was detected through metabolic analyses of ATP, ADP, NAD+, and NADH. Even though the objectives of these studies were achieved, other tools are still needed to estimate muscle fatigue in real-time and during transportation. In the future, these studies can be used to create vibration comfort levels and provide specific pig health risks because of exposure to vibrations during transportation.