RESUMO
The objective of this study was to examine the effects of behavioral differences in cattle on bruising on different cuts and on carcass yield. A total of 4,061 lots of cattle were evaluated, which corresponded to 199,026 carcasses. Animal temperament was classified as calm, anxious, or excited. The following carcass cuts were evaluated: round, rump, shin, thin flank, tenderloin, and rib. Of the total number of slaughtered animals, 68.26% had at least one type of bruise with complete removal of the affected tissue. There was an interaction effect between sex and temperament on the occurrence of bruises on the different cuts and on carcass yield. In castrated males, bruises on the round, rump, shin, and tenderloin cuts did not differ between temperament classes, but the excited males showed more bruises on the thin flank and rib cuts. Among the females, for all cuts, the number of bruises was higher (P<0.05) in those with excited temperament than in the anxious and calm animals, which did not differ (P>0.05). Additionally, carcass yield relative to plant weight decreased (P<0.05), with the calm females exhibiting the highest values, followed by those with anxious and excited temperament. In the castrated males, however, although performance declined, those with anxious and excited temperament did not differ (P>0.05). Females and more reactive animals have more bruises on their carcass.(AU)
O objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar os efeitos das diferenças comportamentais dos bovinos e seus reflexos nas contusões nos diferentes cortes e nos valores de rendimento de carcaça. Foram avaliados 4.061 lotes de bovinos, perfazendo 199.026 mil carcaças. O temperamento animal foi classificado em calmo, ansioso e excitado. Foram avaliados os cortes das carcaças divididas em coxa, alcatra, dianteiro e lombo, vazio e costela. Do total de lotes de animais abatidos, 68,26% apresentaram pelo menos um tipo de contusão com remoção completa do tecido afetado. Ocorreu interação entre o sexo e temperamento animal para os diferentes cortes na ocorrência de contusões e no rendimento de carcaça. Nos machos castrados as contusões dos cortes da coxa, alcatra, dianteiro e lombo não diferiram entre as classes de temperamento, tendo os animais agressivos mais contusões nos cortes do vazio e costela. Nas fêmeas em todos os cortes, as quantidades de contusões verificadas foram superiores (P<0,05) para animais com comportamento excitado do que animais ansiosos e calmos, não ocorrendo diferença entre os mesmos (P>0,05). O rendimento de carcaça em relação do peso de frigorífico quanto as classes comportamentais, nas fêmeas foi decrescente (P<0,05) com maiores valores para animais calmos, seguidos dos animais ansiosos e com menores rendimentos para animais com temperamento excitado, enquanto nos machos castrados, embora o rendimento tenha sido decrescente, animais com temperamento ansioso e excitado não diferiram (P>0,05). Carcaças oriundas de fêmeas e de animais com maior reatividade apresentam mais lesões.(AU)
Assuntos
Animais , Comportamento Sexual Animal/fisiologia , Comportamento Animal/fisiologia , Bovinos/fisiologia , Bem-Estar do Animal , Agroindústria , CarneRESUMO
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
Bem-Estar do Animal , Conhecimentos, Atitudes e Prática em Saúde , Gado , Saúde Ocupacional , Meios de Transporte , Adolescente , Adulto , Animais , Bovinos , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , México , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Fatores de Risco , Inquéritos e Questionários , Adulto JovemRESUMO
In Uruguay, extensive, welfare-friendly beef production is a substantial part of the economy and culture. Transport of beef cattle to slaughterhouse compromises animal welfare. The objective of this study was to assess transport conditions related to carcass bruising. A total of 242 trucks with 8132 animals were assessed on loading, transport, unloading conditions, and carcass bruising. Average loading time was 26 min and 21 s and the perception of the truck drivers was correlated with the time took for loading and the use of devices. In 39.3% of the loadings only a flag was used. The average unloading time was 5 min and 54 s with a significant difference in time for the use of devices; only flag 3 min 51 s, cattle prod 6 min 43 s and sticks 8 min 09 s. Of the carcasses observed, 772 (9.5%) had no bruises, 873 (10.7%) had one bruise, 1312 (16.1%) two, 1231 (15.1%) three and 3944 (48.5%) had four or more bruises. Prevalence of bruises were highest on the Tuber-coxea (hip) (29.3%) following forequarter (22.4%), Tuber-ischiadicum (rear) (17.3%), ribs/flank (14.1%), rump/round (10.1%) and loin (6.8%). Bruises were 68.7% grade 1 and 31.3 % grade 2; there were no grade 3, the deepest ones, observed. It appeared that animal welfare training of truck drivers worked out well and the use of flags increased compared to a previous study in 2008.