Microbiota changes on the surface of pig carcasses during refrigerated transportation and marketing

We investigated changes in the microbiota composition on the surface of pig carcasses during refrigerated transportation of different distances(200,300,400,500 km)and further transferring to the market place.Microbial samples were obtained by sterile swabs at the starting point,the end points of transportation and the market points.Core temperature of pig carcasses,temperature and air humidity in refrigerated vehicles were also tracked.The air temperature and humidity in the refrigerated vehicles remained relatively constant during transportation.However,the air temperature and carcass temperature at the end points of transportation were the highest for the 500 km group and the lowest for the 400 km group(P<0.05),while the air humidity was the highest for the 200 km group and the lowest for the 400 km group(P<0.05).Microbial colony counts showed a slight increase during transportation and differed among five sampling points on the surface of pork carcasses with the highest for the outside of the shoulder and the lowest for the inside of the belly(P<0.05).Microbiota composition changed greatly and Acinetobacter,Pseudomonas,Psychrobacter,Chryseobacterium,Staphylococcus,Brochothrix,Morexella,and Flavobacterium were the predominant genera.Pseudomonas was the most predominant during transportation.