[Water regulation in slaughter-houses and meat works. Showering pigs intended for slaughter (author's transl)].

On a number of relatively cold and hot days, the effect of showering pigs in the pens of a pig slaughter-house was studied. During the resting period of approximately two hours, 50 per cent of a group of 459 pigs were showered and the other 50 per cent were not. The situation in the pens, the variations in body temperature and the quality of the pork were determined. It can be concluded that showering pigs intended for slaughter in pens using water of approximately 13 degrees C: -- reduces pollution in the slaughter line; -- results in a significant decrease in body temperature; -- reduces the number of animals showing an abnormal quality of the pork on hot days. Showering has a less beneficial and occasionally even adverse effect on the quality of the pork on cold days.