The handling of cattle pre-slaughter and its effects on carcass and meat quality

Electrical stimulation and wet ageing effects on the carcass and meat quality of Australian rangeland goats

Medium voltage electrical stimulation and wet ageing periods effects on the carcasses and meat quality of Australian rangeland goats were investigated. 64 rangeland goats were slaughtered as 2 equal consignments, wherein half were exposed to post-dressing electrical stimulation (300 V, 500 ms pulse width, 45 s) and half were not (control). Carcass and pH decline parameters and glycogen concentration were recorded. At 24 h post-mortem, fresh colour was measured and longissimus lumborum muscles (LL) removed. Within carcass, paired LL were halved and allocated to each of 4 ageing periods (1, 2, 4, or 21 d). There were no significant effects from electric stimulation on LL pH at 18 °C, LL temperature at pH 6, LL pH at 24 h post-mortem, semitendinosus pH at 24 h post-mortem, and LL glycogen concentration. There were no significant interactions between stimulation and ageing period on cooking loss, particle size, purge loss, sarcomere length, shear force, and ultimate pH. Independent to stimulation, shear force, particle size, and cooking values declined as ageing period increased. Purge loss was highest after 21 d of ageing. Colour stability was unaffected by ageing, although all CIE colour coordinates varied across the 74 h total retail display period. There were negative linear relationships found between LL glycogen concentrations and LL temperature at pH 6, ultimate pH, and sarcomere length. These findings suggest there to be little benefit to post-dressing electrical stimulation of rangeland goat carcasses, when applied independent to or in combination with ageing.

An analysis of the influence of preslaughter management factors on welfare and meat quality outcomes in fed beef cattle in the United States

During the preslaughter phase, cattle are transported from their place of origin to a slaughter facility, experiencing transportation, lairage, environmental factors, and novel environments. Although research exists that has focused how the preslaughter phase impacts cattle welfare and meat quality, some significant preslaughter management factors and subsequent welfare and meat quality outcomes have not been thoroughly explored. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of preslaughter management factors on welfare and meat quality outcomes in fed beef cattle in the United States. Transportation factors, environmental characteristics, lairage factors, cattle characteristics, and several meat quality variables were collected from 5 federally inspected commercial processing facilities in the United States. After excluding slaughter lots that included <75% complete datasets, a total of 619 slaughter lots representing 84,508 head of cattle were used for further analysis. Predictor variables of interest included processing plant, cattle breed, sex class, operation shift at the plant, distance traveled to the plant, truck waiting time to unload at the plant, lairage duration and space allowance, temperature humidity index, and windspeed. Outcome variables of interest included cattle mobility, carcass bruising, dark cutting (DC), quality grades, and hot carcass weights. Logistic and linear regressions were used to analyze the associations between the predictor and outcome variables of interest. Increased distance traveled and truck waiting time were associated with higher odds of mobility impairment (P = 0.0009 and P = 0.007, respectively), with each 10 km increase in distance traveled having an odds ratio (OR) of 1.001 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.000 to 1.001) and each 1-min increase in waiting time having an OR of 1.003 (CI: 1.001 to 1.004). Conversely, a 10-km increase in distance traveled decreased the odds of carcass bruising (OR: 0.997, CI: 0.996 to 0.998; P < 0.0001). Longer lairage was associated with increased odds of DC (P = 0.0415), with each 60-min increase in duration having an OR of 1.034 (CI: 1.001 to 1.068). The results demonstrate the importance of truck arrival management (i.e., scheduling, prioritizing unloading) on mobility. Focusing on lairage management (i.e., density and time) may provide some opportunities to improve meat quality.

Preslaughter factors affecting mobility, blood parameters, bruising, and muscle pH of finished beef cattle in the United States

Decades of work have focused on reducing fear, stress, and discomfort in cattle during the preslaughter phase by improving and promoting animal handling, transportation, and management processes. Even still, there is limited information about the effects of preslaughter factors on animal welfare and meat quality outcomes in finished cattle in the United States. This study aimed to track individual animals through the slaughter process to identify preslaughter factors associated with key welfare and quality outcomes. A total of 454 cattle from one commercial slaughter facility were studied. Preslaughter factors assessed included distance traveled, truck waiting time, lairage density, lairage duration, and season. Animal characteristics, i.e., body weight, breed, and sex, were also recorded. One trained observer scored the mobility of all cattle using the North American Meat Institute's 1-4 scale (i.e., normal to extremely reluctant to move). Exsanguination blood was collected and analyzed for cortisol, creatine kinase, and lactate. Carcass bruising was scored using a modified version of the National Beef Quality Audit's bruise-scoring methodology (i.e., no bruise, one bruise ≤ the size of a deck of cards, one bruise > than the size of a deck of cards, and multiple bruises). Ultimate muscle pH was measured 32 to 36 h postmortem. Multi-predictor models were selected for each outcome variable using Akaike Information Criterion. Continuous outcome variables were analyzed using linear mixed-effect models and categorical outcome variables with mixed-effect logistic regression models. Longer truck waiting times were associated with increased cortisol (P = 0.04) and lactate (P = 0.02) concentrations. Similarly, increased lairage duration was associated with increased creatine kinase concentrations (P = 0.05) and the odds of cattle being bruised (P = 0.03). Less space allowance per animal in lairage was associated with increased odds of cattle having impaired mobility (P = 0.01). There was a seasonal effect for many of the measured outcomes; the summer season was associated with greater lactate concentrations (P < 0.0001), increased odds of impaired mobility (P < 0.0001), and increased odds of carcass bruising (P = 0.003). The findings of this study indicate that many of the preslaughter factors assessed influence critical welfare and meat quality outcomes of finished beef cattle, warranting future research and consideration.

The effects of colostrum consumption and feed restriction during marketing and transportation of male dairy beef calves: Impact on pre-transport nutritional status and on farm recovery

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of colostrum consumption and feed restriction on biomarkers of stress, nutritional and health status, gut functionality, and behavior in male dairy beef calves being marketed and transported. A total of 82 male Holstein calves (42 ± 1.2 kg of body weight and 14 ± 0.9 d of age) were used to study the amount of colostrum given at birth at the dairy farm of origin, the degree of feed restriction suffered at an assembly center simulation (d -4 to d -1), and the effects of a 19 h transportation (d -1). Treatments were as follows: control calves (CTRL; n = 16) were fed 10 L of colostrum at the dairy farm of origin, milk replacer (MR) and concentrate at the assembly center, and were not transported; calves fed high colostrum and milk replacer (HCMR; n = 17) were given 10 L of colostrum at the dairy farm of origin, MR at the assembly center, and transported; calved fed high colostrum and rehydrating solution (HCRS; n = 16) were given 10 L of colostrum at the dairy farm of origin, a rehydrating solution (RS) at the assembly center, and transported; calves fed low colostrum and milk replacer (LCMR; n = 17) were given 2 L of colostrum at the dairy farm of origin, MR at the assembly center, and transported; and calves fed low colostrum and rehydrating solution (LCRS; n = 16) were given 2 L of colostrum at the dairy farm of origin, RS at the assembly center, and transported. Transported calves mimic a 19-h transportation. After transport, all calves were fed 2.5 L of MR twice daily and had ad libitum access to concentrate, straw, and water. Calves' recovery was followed for 7 d. Concentrate intake and health records were collected daily from d -4 until d 7 and body weight (BW) and blood samples were collected on d -4, -1, 0, 1, 2, and 7 of the study. Results showed that the feeding regimen provided at the assembly center reduced BW for the HCRS and LCRS calves compared with the CTRL, HCMR, and LCMR calves. Concentrate intake peaked on d 0 in the transported calves, followed by a reduction of intake on d 1 after transportation. Concentrate intake recovery was lower for the LCRS and LCMR calves. On d -1, nonesterified fatty acids and β-hydroxybutyrate concentrations were greater for the HCRS and LCRS calves compared with the CTRL, HCMR, and HCRS calves. After transportation, serum Cr-EDTA concentration was greater for the HCRS and LCRS calves than the HCMR, LCMR, and CTRL calves. The LCRS calves had the lowest serum concentration of citrulline. Finally, health scores were greater for the LCRS calves from d 0 to 7. In summary, both the greatest degree of feed restriction during the assembly center and the low colostrum consumption at birth negatively affected the recovery of concentrate consumption and BW, gut functionality, health status, and behavior in calves after arrival at the rearing farm.

Enhancing sustainability through resource efficiency in beef production systems using a sliding time window-based approach and frame scores

The food needs of the increasing global population, inefficiencies in supply chains, customer expectations and environmental concerns are the challenges to meeting resource-intensive protein needs sustainably. Collectively, this increases the need to enhance sustainability in the beef sector. This study proposes a sliding time-window-based multi-period livestock production model using mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) to simultaneously balance economic and environmental losses. It identifies the optimal finishing time using frame score (FS) and feed conversion ratio (FCR), targeting flexibility by allowing variable growth periods to reduce food/nutritional losses while meeting the variability in demands with minimum inventory levels. Furthermore, sequencing and assigning animals to facilities with optimum separation time is applied to avoid bad handling of animals and ensure quality meat with hygienic standards for longer shelf life. The system boundary of the proposed model includes beef farms and processing facilities. Compared to the recently proposed batch processing models over seven months with a herd size of 1980 animals, the findings reduce the average forage needed by ∼126.90 kips and methane emissions by ∼2560 kg, with a significant benefit in terms of the live animals' weight gain by ∼10,276 lbs.

Effects of certain risk factors on presence and severity of carcass bruising in cattle: A study in Turkey

The aim of the study was to examine the effects of some pre-slaughter factors on the total carcass bruise severity score and the presence of carcass bruises. Bruises on 1027 cattle carcasses were evaluated with the "The Australian Carcass Bruise Scoring System," and at least one bruise score was determined in 92.7% of the carcasses. The total carcass bruise severity score increased as the animal's age, transport time, and AWACT (the Welfare Impact Score of Stockperson Actions) score increased (P < 0.001). The probability of the presence of carcass bruising increased 2.751 times in the autumn (P = 0.031) and 2.200 times in the summer (P = 0.072) compared to the winter. Carcass bruises tended to be 1.747 times more common in females than males (P = 0.065), and 65.9% less in the Simmental than Brown Swiss breed (P = 0.060). Human contact (OR = 1.685; P = 0.079) and electric goad using (OR = 1.762; P = 0.069) on the slaughter corridor tended to increase the probability of the presence of carcass bruises. In conclusion, to reduce the presence and severity of carcass bruises, it may be beneficial to focus on the improvement of handling and coercion practices applied by the stock person, to slaughter the cattle in the nearest slaughterhouse, and to pay more care to the handling of culled cattle.

Investigating the impact of pre-slaughter management factors on meat quality outcomes in cattle raised for beef: A scoping review

Introduction

The pre-slaughter management period is a critical juncture in the beef supply chain, having implications not only for animal welfare and product quality, but also for profitability. During this period, cattle are exposed to many stressors in a short time, many of which have been shown to impact meat quality. Understanding how cattle management during this terminal step in the production chain affects meat quality and economic outcomes is crucial.

Methods

The objective of this study was to investigate, synthesize, and report on research evaluating the impact of management factors during the pre-slaughter period on beef meat quality. A systematic approach was used to search for peer-reviewed and primary studies published in English in CAB Abstracts, PubMed, and Web of Science. A total of 3,217 non-duplicate records were screened for eligibility; articles were deemed eligible for inclusion if they included beef cattle in the pre-slaughter period and reported at least one meat quality outcome. After three screening rounds, 85 articles met all inclusion criteria. Data pertinent to the scoping review’s aims were extracted, including study location, population characteristics, pre-slaughter factors reported, and outcomes of interest.

Results

Europe (35, 41%) and South America (21, 25%) represented approximately two-thirds of the studies. Bulls (37, 43.5%) and steers (34, 40.0%) were the most reported sex classes, with the most frequent breed types reported as predominantly British or Continental and Bos indicus breeds (24, 28.2%; 24, 28.2%, respectively). Transportation (n=46), lairage (n=36), and handling (n=35) practices were the most reported pre-slaughter factors. Overall, 59 studies reported pH as an outcome of interest – almost double that of the next highest outcome, bruising (n=35). Muscle pH was most assessed with predictors at the abattoir (n=37); conversely, the effects of transportation were most evaluated on bruising (n=23).

Discussion

A trend across all the categories was that there were relatively few studies evaluating the impact of pre-transport factors on meat quality. Charting the relevant literature is a critical step towards understanding the relationship between pre-slaughter management and end-product quality; doing so will help industry stakeholders in the beef production chain optimize management practices that improve meat quality and enhance profitability.

Feedlot Factors Influencing the Incidence of Dark Cutting in Australian Grain-Fed Beef

It has been well-established that dark cutting (DC) is a multifactorial issue that is associated with numerous animal and management factors. However, there is limited understanding of the feedlot-based factors that contribute to the influence of DC. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of climate, animal, and feedlot factors on the incidence of pH non-compliance in Australian grain-fed cattle. For this study, feedlot and abattoir records from 142,228 individual cattle over a 1-year period were investigated. These data incorporated records from seven feedlots that consigned cattle to three abattoirs. The average incidence of DC in these carcasses was 2.8%. The production factors that were associated with increased risk of DC included feedlot, sex, hormone growth promotants (HGP), cattle health, and days on feed (DOF). Additionally, DC also increased by reduced solar radiation (SR, W/m2), lower wind speeds (WS, m/s), increased ambient temperature (TA, °C), higher rainfall, a higher average temperature–humidity index (THI), and increased duration of time above heat-load-index threshold of 86 (HLI ≥ 86) during the 7 days prior to feedlot departure. This study identified the feedlot factors that increase the risk of DC from a feedlot-management perspective.

Animal Welfare and Food Safety When Slaughtering Cattle Using the Gunshot Method

Simple Summary

Transporting cattle from the farm to the slaughterhouse is often stressful for the animal. With the gunshot method, it is stunned using a rifle while together with familiar herd members in an enclosure on the farm. The shot makes the animal unconscious. Then, as in normal slaughter, the animal is bled to death. Finally, it is transported to a nearby slaughterhouse. We aimed to assess the consequences for animal welfare and food safety of using the gunshot method. Twenty Hereford steers were shot with a hunting rifle using small-calibre ammunition from an elevated position and distance of 6–12 m. Each time, only one out of four to seven animals in a 16 × 10 m corral was shot. Based on the animals’ behaviour and physiological blood values, stress levels before shooting were low. Eleven animals were considered completely unconscious, while seven showed some signs of consciousness and two were poorly stunned. Two animals were reshot with heavier ammunition. Bleeding was satisfactory and little or no contamination was found on the carcasses. We conclude that the gunshot method is applicable to large beef steers while maintaining a satisfactory level of animal welfare and food safety, provided that the necessary conditions can be achieved.

Abstract

Transporting cattle from farm to slaughterhouse is often stressful for the animal, which can impair the meat quality. With the gunshot method, the animal is stunned with a rifle shot while together with familiar herd members in their home environment, exsanguinated and transported to a nearby slaughterhouse. Aiming to assess the consequences for animal welfare and food safety, 20 Hereford steers aged 18–54 months were shot with .22 Magnum ammunition from an elevated position and distance of 6–12 m. Each time, only one out of four to seven animals in a 16 × 10 m corral was shot. Dressing was done on farm. Based on the animals’ behaviour and blood concentrations of cortisol, glucose and lactate, stress levels before shooting were low. Eleven animals were deeply stunned, the consciousness of seven others was ambiguous, and two were poorly stunned. Two animals were reshot. The bleed-out was satisfactory for all animals, and little or no faecal contamination was found on the carcasses. We conclude that the gunshot method is applicable to large beef steers while maintaining a satisfactory level of animal welfare and food safety, provided that the necessary conditions can be attained.

Caspase activity in post mortem muscle and its relation to cattle handling practices

BACKGROUND

Animal handling practices are one of the factors majorly affecting animal metabolism prior to slaughter. This phenomenon increases the occurrence of meat quality defects such as dark cutting-beef, causing high economical losses in the meat industry. Under this framework, the assessment of apoptosis onset in post mortem muscle was proposed as a novel approach to reveal biochemical characteristics in several Spanish bovine breeds (Asturiana de los Valles, Retinta and Rubia Gallega) managed under different production systems (intensive versus semi-extensive) and transport/lairage conditions (mixing versus not mixing with unfamiliar animals). To do so, the activities of initiator caspase 9 and executioner caspases 3/7 were determined in Longissimus thoracis et lumborum muscle at three early post mortem times (2, 8, and 24 h).

RESULTS

Breed effect and transport/lairage conditions were the most relevant factors that influenced both caspase activities over post mortem time, showing Rubia Gallega breed a completely different behavior compared to Asturiana de los Valles and Retinta breeds. Moreover, it is postulated that apoptosis cascade is initiated via the activation of caspase 9 under hypoxic or metabolic stress followed by the activation of executioner caspases 3/7.

CONCLUSIONS

Assessment of apoptosis on post mortem muscle can be a novel approach to study the influence of animal handling on muscle metabolism and post mortem cell death and its consequences on meat quality traits. © 2021 The Authors. Journal of The Science of Food and Agriculture published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Characterizing the literature surrounding transportation of young dairy calves: A scoping review

Transportation is a stressful event for cattle, as it may involve various handling practices, commingling, deprivation of food and water, and fluctuating temperatures. Calves are particularly susceptible to these stressors because their physiological and immune systems are still developing. There has been no formal synthesis of the scientific literature evaluating the effect of transportation on young dairy calf health and performance; the aim of this scoping review is to describe and characterize this body of work. We targeted both descriptive and analytic studies examining transport of calves, including listing how the effect of transport has been evaluated. Eight databases were searched for relevant articles with eligible studies being primary research articles investigating transportation of calves of either sex who were younger than 60 d of age or weighed less than 100 kg. Two reviewers independently screened the title and abstracts of 6,859 articles with 361 potentially relevant articles screened at full text. Of these, 46 were relevant and had data extracted. Articles reporting study location were conducted in the United States (n = 5), Australia (n = 3), Japan (n = 3), and New Zealand (n = 3). Common transport-related variables evaluated included time in transit (n = 13), distance of transportation (n = 8), vehicle-related factors (n = 8), and age at time of transportation (n = 4). Outcome measures varied greatly, including blood parameters (n = 28), health assessments (n = 20), weight (n = 17), behavioral metrics (n = 14), mortality (n = 7), feed intake following transportation (n = 4), salivary cortisol concentrations (n = 3), morbidity (n = 3), and isolation of Salmonella Dublin in fecal samples (n = 2). Outcome parameters were measured during transport or ranged from immediately after to one year following transportation. As the transport-related risk factors and outcomes measured assessed varied widely between studies, future quantitative synthesis (e.g., meta-analysis) in this area may be limited. Several knowledge gaps were identified, including methods to prepare calves for transportation, such as improving nutrition, administering medication, or transporting calves at an older age or weight. Further research could also focus on consistent and clear reporting of key items related to study conduct and analysis, as well as the development of a core outcome set for calf transport studies.

The Effects of Stocking Density and Distances on Electroencephalographic Changes and Cortisol as Welfare Indicators in Brahman Crossbred Cattle

The objective of the current study was to investigate the effects of stocking density and distances on electroencephalographic changes and cortisol as welfare indicators in Brahman crossbred cattle. Sixty Brahman crossbred heifers were subjected to road transport from a cattle feedlot farm located in Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Serdang to a commercial ruminant abattoir in Shah Alam, Selangor. Animals were assigned to long (850 km) and short (450 km) distances and high (600 sqm), medium (400 sqm), and low (200 sqm) stocking densities. Results revealed that the intensity of cortisol responses and EEG parameters (such as alpha <0.001, beta < 0.001, delta < 0.001, theta < 0.001, MF < 0.001 and Ptot < 0.001) increased significantly. Long-distance transport also resulted in significantly more intense (<0.001) responses to nociception during slaughter than animals that had been transported over a shorter distance, as indicated by EEG and cortisol.

Effects of Slaughter Positions on Catecholamine, Blood Biochemical and Electroencephalogram Changes in Cattle Restrained Using a Modified Mark IV Box

The proper slaughter positioning of animals is among the most crucial factors in animal welfare. The lateral position in Halal slaughter is a technique used around the world by Muslims, with a few practicing the upright position. The literature on the effects of slaughter in upright versus lateral positions on pain and stress is scarce. Thus, this study was designed to evaluate the effects of slaughter positions on blood biochemical parameters, plasma catecholamines, and electroencephalographic (EEG) responses. Twenty Brahman crossbred steers were subjected to slaughter in either lateral recumbency (LP) (n = 10) or an upright position (UP) (n = 10). There was a significant increase in adrenaline (p < 0.0001) and noradrenaline (p < 0.05) at T2 compared to T1 in the animals of both groups. A significant difference (p < 0.0001) was observed in the median frequency (MF) and total power (Ptot) of EEG, parameters for pain and stress, between the animals slaughtered in the upright and the lateral position. However, MF and delta waves were significantly higher (p < 0.05) after slaughter in the UP group than in the LP group. The results demonstrate a lesser amount of stress and pain responses among the LP group.

An observational field study on the effects of changes in shadow contrasts and noise on cattle movement in a small abattoir

This observational field study examined the effect of changes in shadow contrasts on the floor and noise on balking behavior during handling. Seventy-four Bos taurus beef cattle were observed during handling at a small abattoir. Shadow contrast type (none, soft, sharp) was recorded during three stages of handling (unloading, lairage to single-file alley and into stun box). Cattle balking behavior (stop, put head down, back up) and aversive handling (electric prod, tail twist) were recorded for each shadow contrast type and the presence or absence of a noisy rendering truck. Sharp contrast shadows increased balking behavior compared to soft contrast shadows or none during unloading (X² = 12.4, P < 0.001). The noisy truck increased balking behavior during handling from the lairage holding pens to the single-file alley (P < 0.001) and during movement into the stun box (P = 0.001). Sharp contrast shadows on the floor from lighting changes and noise from the truck increased balking behavior in cattle.

The Welfare of Cattle, Sheep, Goats and Pigs from the Perspective of Traumatic Injuries Detected at Slaughterhouse Postmortem Inspection

Simple Summary

The occurrence of traumatic injuries was assessed in cattle, sheep, goats and pigs reared and slaughtered in the Czech Republic. For the purposes of the study, the results of veterinary postmortem examinations at slaughterhouses in the period from 2010 to 2019 were analyzed. In the studied animal species, findings of traumatic lesions were detected at low frequency. The low frequency of traumatic lesions is favorable from the perspective of the welfare of slaughtered animals. In terms of further improvements to animal welfare, it would be desirable to focus on the prevention of trauma in cattle in particular, in which findings of trauma were more frequent than in the other species studied. The category most affected by trauma both to the limbs and body was cows.

Abstract

The welfare of cattle, pigs, sheep and goats was assessed by measuring trauma detected during veterinary postmortem inspection at slaughterhouses. The subject of this evaluation were all bovine, porcine, ovine and caprine animals slaughtered at Czech slaughterhouses in the monitored period, i.e., a total of 1,136,754 cows, 257,912 heifers, 1,015,541 bulls, 104,459 calves, 586,245 sows, 25,027,303 finisher pigs, 123,191 piglets, 22,815 ewes, 114,264 lambs, 1348 does and 5778 kids. The data on the numbers of traumatic findings were obtained retrospectively from a national veterinary database collecting data from slaughterhouse postmortem examinations. The results showed that findings of trauma were observed at a low frequency in the studied species. Injuries were detected most frequently in cows (1.71%). In contrast, no findings associated with the presence of trauma were recorded in does and kids. From the viewpoint of trauma localization, findings on the limbs were more frequent than findings on the body (p < 0.01). The only exceptions to this were lambs, does and kids, for which there was no statistically significant difference between findings on the limbs and the body (p = 1.00). The results show that housing system (bedding, the presence of slats, floor hardness), transport of animals to the slaughterhouse (moving animals to the vehicle, loading ramps, floors in transport vehicles and the transport of animals itself) and design of the slaughterhouse (unloading ramps, passageways and slaughterhouse floors) have a greater impact on the limbs than the bodies of animals in the majority of species. A difference was also demonstrated in the occurrence of findings of trauma in the limbs and body (p < 0.01) between culled adult animals and fattened animals, namely in cattle and pigs. A difference (p < 0.01) between ewes and lambs was found only in the occurrence of traumatic injury to the limbs. The results showed that fattened animals are affected by the risk of trauma to a lesser extent than both culled adult animals and young animals. Statistically significant differences (p < 0.01) were also found between the studied species and categories of animals. The category most affected from the viewpoint of injury both to the limbs and body was cows. In contrast to cows that are typically reared indoors, the low frequency of traumatic findings was found in small ruminants and in bulls, i.e., animals typically reared outdoors. Assumedly, access to pasture may be beneficial considering the risk of traumatic injury.

Effect of Finishing Diet and Lairage Time on Steers Welfare in Uruguay

Simple Summary

The transport and general handling of slaughter animals are associated with a series of events that cause stressful and unfavorable conditions that can compromise animal welfare. All these stressful events start at the farm and end with the death of the animal. In this experiment, we evaluated the effect of two finishing strategies and two contrasting lairage times through the combination of several indicators regarding productivity, physiology, behavior and postmortem variables. Individual temperaments and their impact on welfare and carcass quality were also considered. Animal welfare was not compromised in any diet during the finishing period. Individual temperament had a positive impact on the productivity and on all physiological indicators at different preslaughter stages. For that reason, we consider that it should be given paramount importance when talking about animal welfare. According to our results, with pasture-based animals, without fasting on the farm and after a short time of transportation (3.5 h), a longer preslaughter resting time (15 vs. 3 h) is desirable from the animal welfare perspective. Furthermore, our results suggest that this longer resting period, would also be more convenient from the carcass quality perspective.

Abstract

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of two different pasture-based finishing strategies and lairage time on steers welfare in Uruguayan conditions. Sixty Hereford (H) and Braford (B) steers were assigned to two different diets for finishing purposes: (D1) native pasture plus corn grain (1% of live weight) (H n = 15, B n = 15) and (D2) high-quality pasture (H n = 15, B n = 15). The average daily gain was registered every 14 days, and temperaments were individually assessed one week before slaughter by three individual tests: crush score, flight time and exit speed, building a multicriterial temperament index (TIndex). Animals were slaughtered the same day in two groups (50% from D1 and 50% from D2 in each group) after traveling for 3.5 h and staying 15 (long lairage) and 3 h (short lairage) in the lairage pens, respectively. The behaviors were observed during lairage, and physiological indicators were used to assess stress at the farm after transport, after lairage and at slaughter. Bruises incidence and final pH were registered at the abattoir as a means of assessing the overall animal welfare. Calmer animals had higher average daily gains with no differences either between diets or between breeds. Calmer animals also had a lower stress response during all preslaughter stages, regardless of the time in lairage. Transport did not imply psychological stress (cortisol) for any slaughter group, but physical stress was evident after transport in both groups through NEFA and CPK increases. Bruise incidences did not differ between lairage groups. The short lairage group did not have enough time to cope with the environment before slaughter, with the consequent deleterious effects on the carcass pH. Animals from the long lairage group had a higher metabolic response shown through NEFA values, but they had enough time to rest and recover overnight, reaching final pH values lower than 5.8, considered the upper limit of the normal range. According to this experiment, with pasture-based animals without fasting on the farm and after 3.5 h of transportation, a resting period of 15 h in lairage should be better than a 3-h one.

Effect of Different Finishing Strategies and Steer Temperament on Animal Welfare and Instrumental Meat Tenderness

Simple Summary

Animal welfare is one of the most important quality attributes for meat consumers and a potential tool for differentiation in farms where husbandry is based on extensive rearing systems and high animal welfare standards. However, there is not enough contextualized scientific information in relation to these systems and some others that are emerging, with a higher level of intensification. In this experiment, we compared animal welfare between different fattening systems, through the combination of several indicators regarding physiology, behavior, health, productivity, and meat tenderness. Animal temperament, as well as its impact on welfare and meat quality, was also considered. From our results, we concluded that finishing strategies based on pastures that ensure an adequate level of nutrition and health would be more appropriate for fattening animals, from both the animal welfare and the meat quality perspectives. Intensification up to certain levels (pasture plus supplement), without deprivation of certain behaviors and with constant monitoring of health, should provide productive benefits without compromising animal welfare. In confined systems with 9 m² per animal, the challenge is greater in relation to animal welfare because of restrictions of important behaviors and greater risks of dietary diseases. It is considered that, if some conditions of the confined system are improved, such as the space available per animal and the strict prevention and constant monitoring of diet disorders, it could be a valid alternative for fattening cattle. Temperament could be improved through good handling, with positive impacts on welfare, productivity, and meat tenderness.

Abstract

The aim of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of different fattening systems from pasture to concentrate and temperament on animal welfare (AW) and meat quality (MQ). Eighty-four Hereford steers were randomly assigned to the following groups: T1, pasture (4% of animal live weight: LW); T2, pasture (3% LW) plus concentrate (0.6% LW); T3, pasture (3% LW) plus concentrate (1.2% LW); T4, an ad libitum concentrate treatment. Temperament was assessed by three individual tests: crush score, flight time, and exit speed, building a multicriterial temperament index (TIndex). The flight zone was also registered for each treatment. AW was assessed through the integration of indicators of productivity, physiology, and behavior, as well as by monitoring the health status within each treatment. Shear force was registered for MQ. Differences in average daily gain were due to the different energetic composition of the diets (T4 > T3 > T2 > T1) and were not attributable to animal welfare problems. Animals from T4 had the higher average daily gain (ADG) but welfare was negatively affected, being evident through physiological indicators, the restriction or deprivation of relevant behaviors, diet-related diseases, and mortality. T1, T2, and T3 did not appear to compromise animal welfare. However, strict preventive measures and monitoring should be taken during the habituation process and when using any new diet that includes concentrate, because of possible dietary diseases. Shear force values were lower in T1. None of the animals in our experiment were excitable or aggressive, but there was a positive response to handling in all treatments. In addition, regardless of diet, calmer animals had higher average daily gain and lower shear force values; thus, temperament appears to have a significant influence on productivity and meat quality.

Sire Effects on Carcass of Beef-Cross-Dairy Cattle: A Case Study in New Zealand

Simple Summary

Cattle born in the dairy industry are a very important source of beef. This study evaluated the carcasses of cattle born to dairy cows and sired by a range of Angus and Hereford sires. Sire affected most carcass traits of their progeny, particularly size and fat traits. The heaviest sire had 46 kg greater carcass weight compared with the lightest sire, equivalent to NZ$266 greater value per progeny. Carcass fat traits (rib fat depth and marble scores) were the most variable among sires, indicating possibility of selection. Thus, using beef-breed sires chosen for greater carcass weight has the potential to increase the meat production of cattle born on dairy farms, while maintaining adequate fat levels and carcass quality to receive optimum payment.

Abstract

There is interest in increasing the carcass value of surplus calves born in the dairy industry that are reared for beef production in New Zealand. This experiment evaluated the carcass of Angus and Hereford sires via progeny testing of beef-cross-dairy offspring grown on hill country pasture. Weight and carcass traits were analyzed from 1015 animals and 1000 carcasses of 73 sires. The mean of the progeny group means was 567 kg for live weight at slaughter, 277 kg for carcass weight, 48.9% for dressing-out, 240.3 cm for carcass length, 73.6 cm² for eye muscle area, 7.4 mm for rib fat depth, 0.91 for marble score, 3.05 for fat color score, 3.01 for meat color score, and 5.62 for ultimate pH. Sire affected (p < 0.05) carcass size and fat traits, but not fat color, meat color, or ultimate pH (p > 0.05). There was a 46 kg increase in carcass weight between the best and worst sires tested. Carcass fat traits were the most variable among sires. The use of genetically superior beef-breed sires over dairy-breed cows has the potential to increase carcass weights from surplus calves born in the dairy industry, while maintaining adequate fat levels and carcass quality.

Effect of slaughter age and post-mortem days on meat quality of longissimus and semimembranosus muscles of Boer goats

This study investigated the effects of age of animal and days post-mortem (PM) on meat quality of Boer goats. Twenty-four (24) wether Boer goats of two age groups (2YO group: 2 years old and 9MO: 6-9 months, with 12 animals/group) were slaughtered in a commercial processing plant. The pH@Temp18 was estimated to be above 6 in both age groups with higher (P < 0.01) values in 2YO goats. The PM storage for 14 days reduced the shear force in both age groups (P < 0.01). 2YO goat muscles (longissimus and semimembranosus) exhibited higher (P < 0.01) Thiobarbituric acid reactive substance values (TBARS), indicating increased lipid oxidation. Glycogen (P < 0.01) and lactate content (20 min post-slaughter) in longissimus of 9MO were lower compared to 2YO, and total muscle glycogen concentration was lower (P < 0.01) in both age groups below the threshold levels. Hence, as hypothesized, age and days PM proved to play crucial roles on Boer meat quality.

Effect of pre-slaughter fasting duration on physiology, carcass and meat quality in beef cattle finished on pastures or feedlot

Pre-slaughter fasting duration affect blood parameters related to stress and metabolism, decrease live and carcass weights and impact beef quality of cattle. In three experiments, 1100 steers and heifers, finished on feedlot or on pasture, were evaluated to assess the influence of the site and duration of fasting before slaughter on physiological, carcass and meat quality traits. Cattle were allocated to one of two fasting duration - long (23-29 h) or short (2-6 h) - and to one of two sites of fasting- farm or abattoir. All animals had access to water ad libitum until slaughter, except during transportation. Cattle were assigned to two (long fasting on abattoir/normal lairage time, short fasting on farm/minimal lairage time) or three (long fasting on abattoir/normal lairage time, short fasting on farm/minimal lairage time, long fasting on farm/minimal lairage time) treatments. Seventeen slaughters were considered in a randomized complete block design. There was no effect of the site of fasting on any variable. Cattle with short fasting duration had higher carcass weights and water consumption than those under long fasting duration. Haematocrit, globulin, total protein, and lactate dehydrogenase at the time of slaughter increased with fasting duration. There was no effect of the duration of fasting on blood ions, meat quality traits, urine pH, liver weight and volume, and skin dry matter. A reduction in the fasting duration returned to farmers and abattoirs 1.2% additional kilograms of carcass, suggesting an improvement in animal welfare according to a better hydration level of cattle at the time of slaughter.

Effects of Stocking and Transport Conditions on Physicochemical Properties of Meat and Acute-Phase Proteins in Cattle

This study's objective was to evaluate the effects of distance and stocking density on physicochemical properties and oxidative stability of meat and acute-phase proteins in Brahman crossbred cattle transported by road under hot and humid tropical conditions. Sixty Brahman crossbred heifers were subjected to road transport from a cattle feedlot farm located in Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Serdang, to a commercial ruminant abattoir in Shah Alam, Selangor. Animals were assigned to long and short distances and high, medium, and low stocking densities. The results revealed that the intensity of response significantly increased in meat samples from animals subjected to long-distance transportation and higher stocking density. Alpha-1-acid glycoprotein and serum amyloid-A values increased considerably and were different from the baseline values recorded at preload. In conclusion, the current results revealed that the color, pH, shear force values, water holding capacity (WHC), glycogen level, and malondilaldehyde assay (MDA) concentrations in meat and acute-phase proteins (APP) were affected by both distances and stocking densities, as evidenced by the significant changes recorded from the parameters above.

Effect of Two Organic Production Strategies and Ageing Time on Textural Characteristics of Beef from the Retinta Breed

The primary aim of this paper is to determine the influence of two organic production systems, organic grass-fed (OG) and organic concentrate-fed (OC), vs. a conventional concentrate-fed (CC) system; the second aim is to determine the influence of the ageing period on the physical parameters and texture properties of beef from the Retinta breed. Muscle samples from Longissimus thoracis were stored at 2-4 ± 1 °C for 0, 7, 14, and 21 days for the purposes of ageing. Analyses of pH, water losses (drip loss and cooking loss), Warner-Bratzler shear force, texture profile analysis (TPA), and histological analysis of muscle fibre were carried out. The results revealed that organic meat experienced lower drip loss and higher cooking loss than conventional meat. Although the meat of organic grass-fed animals was tougher initially, it showed a higher tenderisation speed in the first ageing days than OC and CC meats. The sarcomere length increased during the ageing period, which showed a negative correlation to shear force. According to its texture characteristics, the Retinta meat produced in organic systems could be recommended by its quality.

From unloading to trimming: studying bruising in individual slaughter cattle

Livestock bruising is both an animal welfare concern and a detriment to the economic value of carcasses. Understanding the causes of bruising is challenging due to the numerous factors that have been shown to be related to bruise prevalence. While most cattle bruising studies collect and analyze data on truckload lots of cattle, this study followed a large number (n = 585) of individual animals from unloading through postmortem processing at five different slaughter plants. Both visual bruise presence and location was recorded postmortem prior to carcass trimming. By linking postmortem data to animal sex, breed, trailer compartment, and traumatic events at unloading, a rich analysis of a number of factors related to bruise prevalence was developed. Results showed varying levels of agreement with other published bruising studies, underscoring the complexity of assessing the factors that affect bruising. Bruising prevalence varied across different sex class types (P < 0.001); 36.5% of steers [95% confidence interval (CI): 31.7, 41.6; n = 378], 52.8% of cows (45.6, 60.0; 193), and 64.3% of bulls (no CI calculated due to sample size; 14) were bruised. There was a difference in bruise prevalence by trailer compartment (P = 0.035) in potbelly trailers, indicating that cattle transported in the top deck were less likely to be bruised (95% CI: 26.6, 40.4; n = 63) compared to cattle that were transported in the bottom deck (95% CI: 39.6, 54.2; n = 89). Results indicated that visual assessment of bruising underestimated carcass bruise trimming. While 42.6% of the carcasses were visibly bruised, 57.9% of carcasses were trimmed due to bruising, suggesting that visual assessment is not able to capture all of the carcass loss associated with bruising. Furthermore, bruises that appeared small visually were often indicators of larger, subsurface bruising, creating an “iceberg effect” of trim loss due to bruising.

Review of Livestock Welfare Indicators Relevant for the Australian Live Export Industry

Animal welfare is an important issue for the live export industry (LEI), in terms of economic returns, community attitudes and international socio-political relations. Mortality has traditionally been the main welfare measure recorded within the LEI; however, high mortality incidents are usually acted upon after adverse events occur, reducing the scope for proactive welfare enhancement. We reviewed 71 potential animal welfare measures, identifying those measures that would be appropriate for use throughout the LEI for feeder and slaughter livestock species, and categorised these as animal-, environment- and resource-based. We divided the live export supply chain into three sectors: (1) Australian facilities, (2) vessel and (3) destination country facilities. After reviewing the relevant regulations for each sector of the industry, we identified 38 (sector 1), 35 (sector 2) and 26 (sector 3) measures already being collected under current practice. These could be used to form a 'welfare information dashboard': a LEI-specific online interface for collecting data that could contribute towards standardised industry reporting. We identified another 20, 25 and 28 measures that are relevant to each LEI sector (sectors 1, 2, 3, respectively), and that could be developed and integrated into a benchmarking system in the future.

Preliminary Exploration of the Accuracy of Visual Evaluation in Estimating Actual Bruise-Trim Weight of Beef Carcasses

Carcass bruising results in economic loss to the beef industry and is an indicator of a potential animal-welfare concern. The industry relies on visual assessment to determine the prevalence of bruising and to estimate bruise size (weight). This study examines the accuracy of using visual assessment to estimate bruise-trim weight from beef carcasses in a commercial slaughter facility. The removed bruise trim from 105 beef carcasses (84 cow and 21 steer carcasses; hot carcass weight for a subsample [mean ± standard deviation] = 768 ± 157 lb) was visually assessed by one trained observer using a protocol adapted from the National Beef Quality Audit Bruise Key visual assessment tool, and a second observer weighed the bruise trim. These data were used to assess the accuracy of the visual assessment of trim off of a carcass. A total of 68.6% (95% confidence interval: 58.7%, 77.1%) of collected bruise-trim weights were assessed correctly using the modi- fied National Beef Quality Audit Bruise Size Key visual assessment. Because of a limited number of samples in several of the bruise-trim categories, there is not a clear trend in how accuracy of estimation changed with increased bruise weight. These findings suggest that visual assessment of bruise trim may not be providing an accurate estimate of bruise-trim weight. The development of training materials to aid in visual bruise weight/size assessment would be helpful for improving bruise estimates within the cattle industry.

Animal welfare in the U.S. slaughter industry-a focus on fed cattle

Animal welfare within the U.S. slaughter industry continues to prevail as one of the top priorities for livestock producers, businesses, and consumers alike. There are federal regulations that enforce the humane transport, handling, and slaughter of cattle. The journey that cattle must make to the slaughter facility is comprised of many environmental and human factors that can positively or negatively affect animal welfare. Cattle may be exposed to multiple stressors, such as noise, unfamiliar animals and humans, temperature extremes, temporary food/water deprivation, variable transport distances and experiences, and new pen conditions. The animal caretakers involved in these processes attempt to minimize stress and discomfort for the animals, but research is needed to focus on the gaps in knowledge and to support the implementation of strategies known to enhance the human-animal interactions that occur from farm to slaughter. This literature review will provide a summary of fed cattle welfare topics, research, and industry tools that span across the beef animal's journey from the farm/feedlot through the slaughter process. In addition, areas that have had little research focus are identified to highlight the need for future work and development of industry tools. Some of these topics include examining trailer design, the use of trailer slats during weather extremes, the welfare aspects of cattle destined for salvage slaughter, multiple preslaughter factors and interactions, abnormal mobility and nonambulatory cattle, lairage environmental conditions, new stunning methods, and the impact of a well-trained, motivated, and stable workforce on cattle and people welfare. The authors conducted a survey at the 2019 North American Meat Institute Animal Care and Handling Conference, which comprised of stakeholders within the meat packing industry, packing plant employees, and food company employees, educators, and auditors. The survey responses identified training/education and communication as areas of need in animal welfare, whereas the majority of survey responses focused on the aspects of the human-animal interaction as the top challenges for the industry. By continuously identifying, measuring, monitoring, and managing animal welfare challenges within the beef cattle slaughter industry, prioritization and execution of programs and training that improve the welfare of cattle can be achieved as animals move through this final stage of the meat production system.

Role of phosphorylation on characteristics of glycogen phosphorylase in lamb with different glycolytic rates post-mortem

The relationship between glycogen phosphorylase activity and phosphorylation levels in the longissimus thoracis muscle post-mortem was studied. Sixty lamb samples were collected at 0.5 h, 2 h, 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h post-mortem and divided into three groups (n = 6) with different glycolytic rates (fast, intermediate, and slow) according to the pH at 6 h post-mortem. The phosphorylation level and activity and expression of glycogen phosphorylase were determined. The results showed that the phosphorylation level and activity of glycogen phosphorylase in the slow pH decline group was lower than that in the fast pH decline group during 24 h post-mortem (P < .05). There was a significant positive correlation between the glycogen phosphorylase activity and the phosphorylation level. In conclusion, these data demonstrated that the glycogen phosphorylase activity in lambs was affected by phosphorylation levels and postmortem duration.

The effects of season and post-transport rest on alpaca (Vicunga pacos) meat quality

The effects of season (summer, autumn, winter and spring) and post-transportation rest on alpaca meat quality were investigated in 160 castrated male alpacas (23 ± 1 month of age) over a 12 month period. Twice per season, animals were randomly allocated to consignment groups of 20, transported 4 h to slaughter and allocated to either of two treatment groups: (1) overnight lairage pre slaughter (Direct) and (2) seven day rest period with access to feed pre slaughter (Rested). At slaughter, blood was collected for the analysis of plasma cortisol and a longissimus core sample obtain pre rigor for glycogen content determination. Alpaca muscle moisture loss increased through summer and spring in the longissimus thoracics. Seasonal differences did not reflect pasture seasonality or muscle glycogen content. Resting alpacas for 7 days pre-slaughter reduced muscle glycogen content and tenderness. Drip loss and purge was greater for rested animals indicating that resting alpacas post transport is not advantageous to alpaca meat quality.

The Impact of Pre-Slaughter Stress on Beef Eating Quality

Simple Summary

Consumer satisfaction is essential to the beef industry to ensure return protein purchasing. The Meat Standards Australia grading system has been pivotal in regulating the quality and consistency of meat palatability by creating objective measurements such as carcass characteristics, genetics systems, and production systems to predict consumer eating quality. One of the main objective measurements for carcass compliance is the ultimate pH of the longissimus thoracis et lumborum; however, recent research has demonstrated that pre-slaughter stress is eroding beef eating quality in pH compliant carcasses. Pre-slaughter mixing and transport was associated with lower eating quality in certain cuts. A two-week rest period at the abattoir prior to slaughter was beneficial for improving consumer sensory eating quality scores. Further research is required to determine if the muscle damage enzyme creatine kinase could be used commercially as an objective measurement to identify which cattle could benefit from a pre-slaughter rest period to improve beef quality.

Abstract

The study evaluated the relationship between pre-slaughter stress, plasma biomarkers and consumer-evaluated eating quality of pasture raised beef cattle (n = 488). The design tested steer only, heifer only and mixed sex cattle with a comparison of direct kill versus a 14 day rest period in abattoir holding paddocks prior to slaughter. Experiment One sourced cattle from four farms and tested shipping and road transport. Experiment Two sourced cattle from four farms and tested a commercial saleyard pathway. The impact on treatment on untrained consumer eating quality scores were tested on five muscle groups, m. psoas major, m. longissimus dorsi lumborum, m. biceps femoris, m. semitendinosis, and m. infraspinatus. Across all muscles, a two-week rest period had the biggest improvement in sensory score. Mixed groups scored lower in the outside muscle than non-mixed groups. However, the mixing response was inconsistent in the eye round muscle and not significant in the other muscles. Plasma glucose and L-lactate indicated a marked acute stress response at slaughter with a small detrimental impact on consumer score. The muscle damage enzyme markers creatine kinase (CK) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were strongly associated with a lower meat quality score (MQ4). Neither β-hydroxybutyrate (βHB) nor non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) were associated with MQ4, suggesting that fat mobilisation does not impact consumer sensory score.

The Use of Biochemical Measurements to Identify Pre-Slaughter Stress in Pasture Finished Beef Cattle

This study considered the relationship between pre-slaughter stressors and plasma biomarkers in 488 pasture-raised cattle across two experiments. The design aimed to test groups consisting of steer only, heifer only, and mixed sex cattle under direct kill versus rested (14 days in abattoir holding paddocks) protocols. In Experiment One, cattle were sourced from four farms, and transported by trucks and ships on the same day. In Experiment Two, cattle were sourced from four farms where a comparison was made between marketing via two commercial saleyards or direct farm gate consignment to abattoir. Blood samples were collected at exsanguination for subsequent analyses and relation to meat quality attributes. Muscle damage, as indicated by creatine kinase, is the biomarker most correlated to ultimate pH and muscle glycogen concentrations. A two-week rest period is effective for lowering this enzyme and improving muscle glycogen concentration. Although the cattle was subjected to a range of stress inducing treatments, we found that plasma biomarkers alone appeared insufficient for use as diagnostic stress indicators.

Glycolysis and pH Decline Terminate Prematurely in Oxidative Muscles despite the Presence of Excess Glycogen

Meat from oxidative skeletal muscle has a higher postmortem ultimate pH, which was originally thought to be a result from decreased antemortem glycogen stores. Therefore, we hypothesized that excess glycogen may not resolve the high ultimate pH of meat from oxidative muscles in ruminants and poultry. To test this hypothesis, an in vitro muscle glycolytic buffer system containing excess glycogen was used to compare glycolysis and pH decline of glycolytic and oxidative muscle from beef, lamb, chicken, and turkey. Glycogen concentration of both glycolytic and oxidative muscle homogenates was similar at 0 min and decreased significantly with time in all species tested. All homogenates contained residual glycogen at 1440 min, indicating glycogen was provided in excess. The ultimate pH of the oxidative muscle homogenates was significantly increased compared to the glycolytic muscle. The oxidative muscle also contained decreased lactate and decreased glucose 6-phosphate in all the species tested at 1440 min. Combined these data suggest that glycolysis and pH decline of oxidative muscles terminate prematurely at higher ultimate pH even in the presence of excess glycogen across livestock species. Additionally, the data indicated that the in vitro glycolytic buffer system can be used to study species specific meat quality problems in beef, lamb, chicken, and turkey.

Computer vision and remote sensing to assess physiological responses of cattle to pre-slaughter stress, and its impact on beef quality: A review

Pre-slaughter stress is well-known to affect meat quality of beef carcasses and methods have been developed to assess this stress. However, development of more practical and less invasive methods are required in order to assess the response of cattle to pre-slaughter stressors, which will potentially also assist with the prediction of beef quality. This review outlines the importance of pre-slaughter stress as well as existing and emerging technologies for quantification of the pre-slaughter stress. The review includes; i) indicators of meat quality and how they are affected by pre-slaughter stress in cattle, ii) contact techniques that have been commonly used to measure stress indicators in animals, iii) remotely sensed imagery techniques recently used as non-invasive methods to monitor physiological and behavioural parameters and iv) potential implementation of remotely sensed imagery data to perform contactless assessment of physiological measurements, which could be related to the pre-slaughter stress, as well as to the indicators of beef quality. Relevance to industry, conclusions and recommendations for research are included.

The Effects of Sea and Road Transport on Physiological and Electroencephalographic Responses in Brahman Crossbred Heifers

The objective of the current study was to evaluate the effects of sea and road transport on the acute phase proteins (APP), cortisol, metabolic, haematological and electroencephalographic (EEG) responses of Brahman crossbred heifers. Sixty Brahman crossbred heifers were subjected to 14 d of transportation by sea from Darwin Port, Australia, to Pasir Gudang Port, Johor, Malaysia, and 330 km of road transportation. Results revealed that the intensity of response for most blood biochemical parameters increased significantly and were different from the baseline values taken while the animals were in Darwin Port, Australia. Haematological results obtained also revealed a significant increase and were different from the baseline values. Cortisol and APP (bovine alpha 1-acid glycoprotein and serum amyloid-A) values increased significantly and were different from the baseline values. Haematological parameters, APP, cortisol and EEG data (alpha, beta, delta and theta waves, total power and median frequency) decreased significantly following 4 and 7 days post-transport, suggesting a recovery of the animals from the stressfulness of transport. In conclusion, the current results revealed that the concentrations of biochemical and haematological parameters, cortisol, APP and EEG data were affected by both sea and road transport as evidenced by the significant changes recorded from the parameters above.

Harvest Method Influences Color Stability of Longissimus Lumborum Steaks from Bos indicus Cattle

Brazil is a major beef exporter to countries where religious slaughter without stunning is mandatory. Fresh beef color influences consumers’ purchase decisions, and harvest method influences beef quality attributes, such as color, water holding capacity, pH, and lipid oxidation. Beef color is a breed-specific trait, and the excitable temperament of Bos indicus cattle can affect fresh meat color. Nonetheless, the effects of harvest method on color and oxidative stabilities of beef from Bos indicus cattle have not been investigated yet. Therefore, our objective was to evaluate the impact of harvest method on color and oxidative stabilities of longissimus lumborum (LL) steaks from Bos indicus beef cattle. The LL muscles (24 h post-mortem) were obtained from 12 Nellore bull carcasses, harvested by either captive bolt stunning (CBP; n = 6) or without stunning (NST; n = 6). The muscles were fabricated into 2.54-cm steaks, aerobically packaged, and stored for 9 d at 4°C in darkness. Myoglobin concentration was analyzed on d 0, whereas pH, instrumental color, lipid oxidation, and water holding capacity were evaluated on d 0, 3, 6, and 9. While CBP and NST steaks exhibited similar (P > 0.05) myoglobin concentration (4.84 mg/g in CBP; 4.84 mg/g in NST), CBP steaks exhibited greater (P < 0.05) surface redness and color stability than their NST counterparts throughout the storage. On the other hand, NST steaks exhibited greater (P < 0.05) pH, yellowness, and water holding capacity than CBP steaks. Overall, the lightness and lipid oxidation were greater (P < 0.05) in NST steaks than their CBP counterparts. These results indicated that harvest method influences surface discoloration and oxidative stability of fresh LL steaks from Bos indicus cattle.

Main Factors Affecting Animal Welfare and Meat Quality in Lambs for Slaughter in Chile

Consumers have become increasingly demanding about the quality of products of animal origin, particularly regarding animal welfare during production, transport, and slaughter. The aim of the present study was to review the factors affecting the welfare of lambs for slaughter in Chile and show the implications on meat quality. Rounding up and driving the lambs from the fields in large extensive production systems and long distance transport through difficult geographical routes affect the blood variable indicators of stress and reduces muscle glycogen reserves, increasing the risk of high pH of meat. In small farmer sheep production conditions there is a lack of appropriate installations for loading/unloading and deficiencies in vehicle structure specific for lambs; this together with the work of untrained handlers results in a high percentage of mortality and bruised carcasses, compared to European studies. These problems are common for other South American countries and should be addressed firstly by educating and training all the people involved in the lamb meat chain regarding animal welfare. In Chile there is legislation, ongoing since 2013, regarding the protection of animals during production, transport, and slaughter, including compulsory training of animal handlers and livestock transporters, which should improve animal welfare and meat quality.

Short communication: Effects of meloxicam administration on protein metabolism and growth performance in transported Jersey calves

Our objective was to investigate the effects of administering the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug meloxicam (MEL) before transport on various indicators of protein metabolism and growth performance over the first 96 h after transport in Jersey calves. Calves (age ± SD; 2 ± 1 d) sourced from a commercial farm were randomly administered, at 1 mg/kg of body weight, either meloxicam (MEL; n = 11) or a whey protein placebo (CON; n = 10) orally before transport to a calf facility (669 km; 8.5-h road trip). Calves were weighed and rectal temperature was recorded before departure (0 h), on arrival (8.5 h), and 96 h after arrival. Blood was collected at the same time as calves were weighed, and samples were analyzed for total protein (0-h sample), cortisol (0- and 8.5-h samples), haptoglobin (0- and 96-h samples), and amino acids, 3-methylhistidine, and urea-N (96 h). Milk replacer (MR) intake was recorded on arrival and over the next 4 d. Serum total protein concentration did not differ for CON and MEL calves. Plasma cortisol concentration was similar across treatments at 0 h; however, it was lower for CON than for MEL calves at 8.5 h. Although serum haptoglobin concentration tended to be greater for CON than MEL calves 96 h after transport, 3-methylhistidine and plasma urea-N concentrations did not differ across treatments. Plasma Asp, Asn, Glu, Lys, Met, Ser, and Trp were greater and plasma Arg, Gly, Pro, and Thr concentrations tended to be greater at 96 h after arrival for MEL compared with CON calves. Intake of MR and average daily gain were higher in MEL than in CON calves. In summary, although it had no effect on 3-methylhistidine or urea-N concentrations, administration of MEL before transport tended to reduce haptoglobin concentration, altered the amino acid profile, and was beneficial in preventing a decrease in MR intake and average daily gain in Jersey calves.

Association between Loin Ultimate pH and Plasma Indicators of Pre-Slaughter Stressors in Australian Lamb

The purpose of this study was to test if associations exist between plasma indicators of acute and chronic stress and lamb ultimate pH. Blood was collected at exsanguination from 2,877 lambs from the Meat and Livestock Australia Genetic Research flock with a suite of indicators analyzed. Ultimate pH was measured in the loin (M. longissimus lumborum) at 24 h post-slaughter. There was a positive association (P < 0.05) between ultimate pH and plasma glucose and lactate concentrations, which indicates that opportunities exist to reduce variation in ultimate pH by reducing stress in the pre-slaughter period. These effects were small by comparison to production factors, however further understanding of how to best manage lambs in the pre-slaughter period is required to minimize stress and maximize lamb wellbeing and meat quality.

Loin eye muscle physico-chemical attributes, sensory evaluation and proximate composition in Korean Hanwoo cattle subjected to slaughtering along with stunning with or without pithing

Korean Hanwoo Cattle (KHC) were utilized to compare existing and modified methods of slaughtering. Carcass traits, loin eye muscle color coordination, physico-chemical attributes, sensory evaluation and proximate composition were assessed. Twelve KHC were slaughtered following 1) CSNHS: non-halal way neck cutting as following captive bolt stunning with pithing and 2) CSHS: halal way neck cutting as following captive bolt stunning without pithing. Loin eye muscle color coordination, physico-chemical attributes and sensory evaluation did not differ significantly subjected to slaughter types (P > 0.05). However, loin eye muscle crude ash content was higher in CSHS group relative to CSNHS (P < 0.05). Pearson's correlation analysis indicated that several traits were affected by slaughter types. Overall, CSHS ensures no negative impact on meat yield and qualitative traits rather led a higher loin eye muscle crude ash content. Therefore, CSHS could be adopted in Korean slaughterhouses with modification of existing practice.

Evaluating Potential Biomarkers of Health and Performance in Veal Calves

Veal calves undergo many challenges in the early stages of their life. Such challenges, including mixing procedures and transportation of calves to the veal farm, may have a negative influence on growth rate, feed intake, metabolism, immunity and disease susceptibility of calves. As a consequence, many hematological, physiological, metabolic and immunological parameters of stressed calves might be altered on arrival at the veal farm. Some of these response variables might be useful as biomarkers of performance of calves at the veal farm as they might provide information about an ongoing disease process, or may predict future diseases. Biomarkers might be helpful to group and manage calves in different risk categories after arrival. By adopting treatment decisions and protocols on a risk-group or individual basis, it would be possible to improve animal health and reduce both disease incidence and antibiotic use. Moreover, the use of biomarkers might be an economically feasible approach as some of them do not need invasive techniques and others can be measured in blood already taken during routine checks. Previous literature mainly assessed the physiological responses of calves to transportation. However, information on the link between on-farm arrival data and future health and performance of veal calves is limited. This review, therefore, examined a wide range of papers and aimed to identify potential biomarkers of future health and performance.