determined that one group of pigs after short lairage (2 h) had higher blood lactate levels compared to pigs in long lairage (24 h). In the current study, there was no significant difference between the two compared cortisol concentrations (Table 4). Although Nanni Costa et al. (2002) found lower initial and ultimate pH values after short lairage compared to long lairage, in the current study, no differences in meat pH were seen among pigs undergoing short or long lairage.