Pre-slaughtering factors related to bruises on cattle carcasses

• DOI: 10.1071/an16177
• Publication Date: 2016-10-12T23:14:09Z
• Authors: F. S. Mendonça; R. Z. Vaz; F. F. Cardoso; J. Restle; F. N. Vaz; L. L. Pascoal; F. A. Reimann; A. A. Boligon
• Keywords: Bruise

The objective of the study was to determine factors related beef cattle carcass bruises. Handling, transportation and unloading data from purchased by a slaughterhouse in southern Brazil were obtained assess their associations with bruising (occurrence or not) number bruises per load. In total, 4338 carcasses 142 loads company assessed. females cull cows males steers. Independent variables studied included sex (females males), loading facilities (good, regular poor), handling transport time farm (hours), hauling-truck types, truck animal-load density (kg/m2) (min). For both traits (carcasses bruised load), all independent showed significant (P < 0.05) effect. Animal is most important factor on load, showing 91% more than males. Moderate load densities caused greater did low (<370 kg/m2) high (>431 densities. general, longer times. Bruises reduced improving good. Transportation vehicles higher capacities (animal numbers) resulted bruising. Therefore, special practices personnel training measures should be undertaken mitigate losses pre-slaughter, especially when female cattle, which are vulnerable developing bruises, possibly due cow reactivity.