Figure 2.

Salivary biomarkers of immunity [(A) Adenosine deaminase, ADA; (B) Haptoglobin, Hp; (C) Calprotectin] and muscle [(D) Creatine kinase, CK] levels in the improved handling group (Group A) and stressful handling group (Group B), obtained the day before transport to the slaughterhouse 8:00 a.m. (B0) and 12:00 a.m. (B4), and the day of slaughter just after unloading animals at the slaughterhouse at approximately 8:00 a.m. (S0) and after 4 h of lairage at approximately 12:00 a.m. (S4). Statistical analysis: letters indicate significant differences within each group between sampling points at the same hour of the day (a: p < 0.05; c: p < 0.001); asterisks indicate differences between groups at a given sampling point (**: p < 0.01; ***: p < 0.001).