The Effect Of Transport Stress On Flesh Quality And Blood Biochemical Parameters Of Yellow Catfish Pelteobagrus Fulvidraco And Channel Catfish Ictalurus Punctatus

Transportation of living fish is one of the most important operations carried out in fish farms.In order to determine the effect of transportation on physiological function and flesh quality of cultured yellow catfish,Pelteobagrus fulvidraco, and channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus, we investigated the blood biochemical parameters and muscular texture profiles of yellow catfish after transportation. The results showed that serum cortisol level and glucose concentration elevated significantly after 4-hour transportation, suggesting that the transport lead to fish stress. Serum concentrations of cortisol and glucose recovered to the control levels after 12 h recovery after transportation. The activities of superoxide dismutase(SOD) and glutathione peroxidase(GSH-Px) as well as total antioxidant capacity increased significantly in catfish suffering from transport stress within 6 hours after transportation. However, there was no significant change in peroxidase(POD) activity in catfish after transportation. Transportation also exerted influence on muscular texture characteristics of cultured yellow catfish. Muscular hardness, springiness, cohesiveness, gumminess, chewiness, and resilience decreased significantly after transportation. All textural parameters recovered to the control level after 72 h recovery after transportation, except for gumminess and chewiness. It was concluded that 4-hour transport caused fish stress and elevation of antioxidant capacity, and altered the muscular texture. The deleterious effects of transport stress, however, on fish physiological function and muscular texture were reversible. Temporary culture after transportation would assist yellow catfish to recover from transport stress.Therefore, this study also aimed to investigate the effects of transport stress on chemical composition(water content, fat, ash, crude protein and energy content) and flesh quality(Muscle pH, drip loss, stored loss, frozen leakage rate and shearing force) parameters of muscle of channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus fingerlings; and identify the duration of the fish to recovery. Fish was exposed to fishing, handling and grading then divided into two groups; the control group(C) and the treatment group(T), which fish exposed to the process of transportation. Samples of muscles were taken to determine the changes of chemical composition and flesh quality at several timepoints.Before experiment(Basal level) and after transportation at 0 hour(directly), 1, 3 and 7 days. Results revealed that transport caused significant(p < 0.05) decreased in water content, fat content and energy content of muscle after 24 hours compared with another times and non-transported fish. Muscle pH and shearing force had significant(p < 0.05) decreased after transport directly, then it was augmented after transport 1 day, thereafter reduced again at 3 days, then it was improved at 7 days after transport. Transported fish gave the highest values in drip loss, stored loss and frozen leakage rate compared with non-transported fish in each time. Hence, it can be concluded that transport live fish led to marked changes of muscle chemical composition and reduce of flesh quality of Ictalurus punctatus. Also, seven days was the best period for fish recovery after transport stress.