RESUMO

Sheep meat is an essential element within the multicultural mosaic of Mexican agri-food traditions. A total of 332 consumers were surveyed face-to-face in restaurants specializing in selling traditional sheep meat products. Our results showed that consumers could be segmented based on their perceptions, habits, and preferences towards sheep meat. For consumers, sheep meat is perceived as food with unique sensory attributes, coming from healthier animals than other species and traditional characters. Their willingness to pay extra is subject to the guarantee that the meat is safe, free of hormones and antibiotics, and to a lesser extent, certified organic. The multivariate analysis suggested three clusters or consumer profiles named passive, wholehearted, and deep-rooted, which explained the associations among attitudes, some demographic variables, and consumption frequency. The nascent national sheep meat industry needs to consider these concerns in developing marketing and trust strategies to attract, maintain, and build loyalty among Mexican consumers.

Assuntos

RESUMO

Detection of on farm and transport animal welfare problems at slaughterhouse level is a key issue for the meat industry; however, usually, the assessments do not include basic aspects of animal health. For that reason, it is necessary to develop an assessment method that has an integrative scope and identifies the risk profiles in animals. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to detect cattle welfare indicators that can be implemented at the slaughterhouse level and to develop integrated risk profiles based on the animal's origin, pre-slaughter logistics, and animal-based indicators. We recorded the origin, commercial category, transportation details, and horn size of 1040 cattle upon arrival at the slaughterhouse. Cattle welfare was measured based on individual scores for vocalizations, stunning shots, carcass bruises, meat pH, severe hoof injuries, and organ condemnations. To characterize operational and logistic practices from the farm to the slaughterhouse, a two-step cluster analysis was applied to the aforementioned variables (production system, cattle type, horn size, journey distance, vehicle type), which identified four clusters: small feedlot and free-range profile (C1, n = 216, 20.8 %), feedlot profile (C2, n = 193, 18.6 %), culled dairy cows profile (C3, n = 262, 25.2 %), and free-range profile (C4, n = 369, 35.5 %). The animal's diet and environmental conditions might have influenced the development of hoof disorders in C1 animals (P = 0.023), the proportion of animals that were re-shot was highest in C2 animals (P = 0.033), and C3 and C4 animals were most likely to suffer injuries such as severe bruising (P = 0.001). In addition, the number of stunning shots, meat pH, carcass bruises, severe hoof injuries, and liver condemnations, explained a significant variation in the incidence of various health and welfare consequences based on an animal's origin, which confirmed their importance as 'welfare iceberg' indicators. The study provided detailed data that can be included into assessment methods for the welfare of slaughter cattle, which can be tailored to specific production systems.

Assuntos

RESUMO

This study presents a novel approach to use claw disorders in cattle as a retrospective welfare indicator characterized at the abattoir. A total of 1040 cattle (2080 front and back left claws) were analyzed from 143 batches, originating from feedlots, free-range, and dairy systems. Our results indicate that abnormal claw shapes (>55%) and fissures of the claw wall (>25%) had the highest prevalence, regardless of the system of origin. For the seven types of lesions monitored, numerous associations were found between lesions in the front and rear limbs typical of each production system. Ultimate meat pH was higher in animals with white line disease and skin wounds in feedlot and free-range cattle. We conclude that claw disorders can be used as an iceberg indicator to provide valuable information about animal fitness, and the ability to cope with the husbandry and pre-slaughter environment. These indicators can be used to improve the level of welfare of the animals.

Assuntos

RESUMO

Mexico is the 7th largest producer of beef in the world. The livestock transport is a vital component of today's world agrifood economy that directly impacts on the development of animal production, animal welfare, public policies, labor regulations, food safety, markets and consumers. In this study two aims were established; the first aim was to identify the attitudes and perceptions of commercial hauliers towards animal welfare and their influence on the accident risks. The second aim was to characterize the current practices of the commercial cattle transport in Mexico and to detect the risk factors for animal welfare and hauliers' wellbeing. The interviews were conducted individually at the hauliers' rest points, sanitary inspection points localized along the Federal Highway 57 or at the companies' offices of cattle transportation. We used univariate, bivariate and multivariate statistics based on a hierarchical cluster analysis. The results showed that cattle transport in Mexico is characterized for long travel distances because the cattle departed from farms in the southern states of Mexico to the feedlots located in central and northern regions of the country. The journeys of short and middle distances departed from the feedlots to the slaughterhouses. The hauliers' characteristics were: age from 29 to 48 years-old, elementary or secondary studies completed, 65% of hauliers mentioned six years of experience in cattle transport, they learned about cattle transportation by means of a family member who was already engaged in this activity. The cluster analysis identified four hauliers' groups: groups 1 and 3 were related to animal welfare and groups 2 and 4 less related to animal welfare. This study showed that empathy towards cattle was a key element in identifying hauliers at risk of road accidents during cattle transportation. Years of experience in cattle transport played an important role in emphasizing closer perceptions towards welfare. Considering current trends towards increased transport times and logistics stops, there is a need to develop systems of welfare assessment and decision-making that provide tools and protocols that can minimize the biological cost to animals and hauliers, which may have been underestimated in the past.

Assuntos

RESUMO

Livestock transport exposes animals to a range of potential stressors that may compromise their welfare and final product quality, and those effects typically increase with the distance travelled. In North America, producers often use pot-belly vehicles for long hauls but little is known about their suitability for transporting lambs. We followed two long-distance trips using pot-belly trailers carrying 500 lambs (each) from Northern to Central Mexico in winter, to measure possible effects on animal welfare and meat quality. Sixty lambs per trip were placed at different locations within the pot-belly trailer. Animals were equipped with iButton Thermochron® temperature devices, which registered body temperature throughout pre- and post-slaughter stages. Despite the rather cool winter conditions, lambs placed in the "belly" and "nose" compartments had higher body temperatures at loading, during transport and lairage and after slaughter (carcass temperature). Those lambs also had higher levels of plasma cortisol, glucose and creatine kinase (CK), and a higher neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio. Regarding meat quality, ultimate pH (24 h) was higher in all locations, especially in LT4 location. Overall, the results suggest a link between thermal stress during transport, elevated physiological indicators of stress and poorer meat quality.

Assuntos

RESUMO

The aim of the study was to determine the effects of abattoir type (conventional abattoir -CA- versus modern abattoir -MA-) on stress parameters and risk factors for high muscle pH in Colombia. A total of 522 Zebu young bulls were studied in two groups: 285 at CA, and 237 at MA. Blood samples were taken to measure cortisol, glucose, lactate, creatine kinase, ß-hydroxybutyrate, total protein, albumin, creatinine, urea, haematocrit, leukocytes and N/L ratio. Cattle were monitored during the unloading, lairage, handling and stunning. The logistic regression model showed that stocking density, transport time, abattoir type, and inefficient stunning were variables associated with the prevalence of dark cutting carcasses. This study demonstrated that modern improvements at abattoir level, proper infrastructure, and stunning equipment, do not always guarantee quality in terms of animal welfare. As a first attempt in the Colombian beef industry, this research suggested how handling practices could affect cattle welfare and the prevalence of high muscle pH even at MA.

Assuntos

RESUMO

Increasing concerns about farm animal welfare have led to an increase in the availability of welfare-friendly-products (WFP), but little is known about how much more consumers are willing-to-pay (WTP) for WFP or about their buying trends in Latin America. In this study, a survey was given to 843 meat consumers in the city of Toluca, Mexico. The results show that consumers were interested in farm animal welfare issues and their ethical, sociological and economic implications, as in Europe. The people surveyed also conveyed a high level of empathy with animal feelings and emotions, however they clearly demanded more information and regulations related to farm animal welfare. The majority of respondents expressed that they were WTP more for properly certified WFP, but mostly based on the benefits in terms of product quality and human health. If the demand for WFP begins to increase in Mexico, the supply chain should consider a certification system to guarantee product origin based on current conditions.

Assuntos

RESUMO

Objetivou-se com este estudo conhecer o comportamento de ovelhas da raça Santa Inês em diferentes estágios fisiológicos durante o manejo pré-abate, assim como a perda de peso corporal, valores de hematócrito do sangue das mesmas e a qualidade da carne. Utilizaram-se 21 ovelhas de descarte, que foram distribuídas nos respectivos tratamentos: T1 = ovelhas que permaneceram por 60 dias em lactação com seus respectivos cordeiros e abatidas um dia após o desmame dos mesmos, T2 = ovelhas que permaneceram por 60 dias em lactação com seus respectivos cordeiros e mais um período aproximado de 30 dias sem os cordeiros e posteriormente foram abatidas, e T3 = ovelhas que permaneceram por 60 dias em confinamento e que não pariram durante o ano. O peso das ovelhas após o transporte foi menor para as do tratamento 1 em comparação às do tratamento 2. Os valores de hematócrito no sangue das ovelhas antes do transporte, após o mesmo e após o jejum dos animais no curral de espera não diferiram entre si, com valor médio de 58,50%. Concluiu-se que a qualidade da carne proveniente de ovelhas de descarte em diferentes estágios fisiológicos não é alterada pelo manejo pré-abate, quando realizado de maneira correta (evitando o estresse animal), quanto ao pH da carne.(AU)

The aim of this study was to know the behavior of Santa Inês ewes in different physiological stages during the pre-slaughter management, as well as their body weight loss, blood hematocrit values and meat quality. 21 discard ewes were used, arranged into the following treatments: T1 = ewes which remained in lactation for 60 days with their respective lambs and slaughtered one day after weaning, T2 = ewes which remained in lactation for 60 days with their respective lambs and one more period of approximately 30 days without the lambs and afterwards slaughtered, and T3 = ewes which remained in confinement for 60 days and did not give birth during the year. The weight of ewes after transportation was lower for T1 in comparison with T2. Blood hematocrit values of ewes before and after transportation and after fast in the waiting pen were not different among the treatments, with mean value of 58.50%. We concluded that the quality of meat of discard ewes in different physiological stages is not altered by pre-slaughter management, when correctly performed (avoiding animal stress), concerning meat pH.(AU)

Assuntos

RESUMO

Objetivou-se com este estudo conhecer o comportamento de ovelhas da raça Santa Inês em diferentes estágios fisiológicos durante o manejo pré-abate, assim como a perda de peso corporal, valores de hematócrito do sangue das mesmas e a qualidade da carne. Utilizaram-se 21 ovelhas de descarte, que foram distribuídas nos respectivos tratamentos: T1 = ovelhas que permaneceram por 60 dias em lactação com seus respectivos cordeiros e abatidas um dia após o desmame dos mesmos; T2 = ovelhas que permaneceram por 60 dias em lactação com seus respectivos cordeiros e mais um período aproximado de 30 dias sem os cordeiros e posteriormente foram abatidas; e T3 = ovelhas que permaneceram por 60 dias em confinamento e que não pariram durante o ano. O peso das ovelhas após o transporte foi menor para as do tratamento 1 em comparação às do tratamento 2. Os valores de hematócrito no sangue das ovelhas antes do transporte, após o mesmo e após o jejum dos animais no curral de espera não diferiram entre si, com valor médio de 58,50%. Concluiu-se que a qualidade da carne proveniente de ovelhas de descarte em diferentes estágios fisiológicos não é alterada pelo manejo pré-abate, quando realizado de maneira correta (evitando o estresse animal), quanto ao pH da carne.

The aim of this study was to know the behavior of Santa Inês ewes in different physiological stages during the pre-slaughter management, as well as their body weight loss, blood hematocrit values and meat quality. 21 discard ewes were used, arranged into the following treatments: T1 = ewes which remained in lactation for 60 days with their respective lambs and slaughtered one day after weaning; T2 = ewes which remained in lactation for 60 days with their respective lambs and one more period of approximately 30 days without the lambs and afterwards slaughtered; and T3 = ewes which remained in confinement for 60 days and did not give birth during the year. The weight of ewes after transportation was lower for T1 in comparison with T2. Blood hematocrit values of ewes before and after transportation and after fast in the waiting pen were not different among the treatments, with mean value of 58.50%. We concluded that the quality of meat of discard ewes in different physiological stages is not altered by pre-slaughter management, when correctly performed (avoiding animal stress), concerning meat pH.

Assuntos

RESUMO

The aim of this study was investigate risk factors as possible causes for bruising and high muscle pH under commercial operating conditions in Colombia. Data was recorded for 86 journeys referring to 1179 animals. Carcasses were analyzed in terms of muscle pH and bruises (site, size, severity and shape). Our results indicate that truck load density, stops during transportation of cattle and the lairage time at the plant increased the risk of bruises appearing on carcasses. A lairage time of 18 to 24h at the plant increased the prevalence of bruises 2.1 times compared to lairage periods of between 12 and 18 h. Furthermore, intermittent stops during transit are a risk factor for the increase in the incidence of bruises. However, the transport time (up to 4h) was not related to the presence of bruises and high muscle pH. Finally, steers were found to have less risk of presenting a high muscle pH.

Assuntos