Effect of pre-slaughter housing of different cattle categories on beef quality
Journal Title: Animal Science Papers and Reports - Year 2011, Vol 29, Issue 1
Abstract
The aim of the study was to determine optimal pre-slaughter handling procedures (individual or group housing) for various slaughter cattle categories. Subjects were 842 Black-and-White Polish Holstein-Friesian slaughter cattle, classified into four EUROP categories – bulls up to 24 months of age (A), bulls older than 24 months (B), cows which had had offspring before (D), and heifers (E). Slaughter value, colour and pH characteristics of beef from these cattle categories were studied. Housing method had no significant effect on carcass composition. The pH48 of meat from grouphoused young bulls (A) and older bulls (B) was higher and the colour parameters were significantly lower compared to meat from individually housed animals of the two categories. No effect of preslaughter housing on the pH48 and colour parameters of meat was found for cows (D) and heifers (E). Abnormally high pH (>5.8) was much more frequent (over 63%) for meat from group-housed A and B animals than for meat from individually-housed animals (about 30%). Correlation coefficients show that pH48 was negatively correlated at P≤0.001 with colour coordinates L*, a*, b* and C* (-0.39, -0.24, -0.22 and -0.25, respectively). It can be concluded that conditions of pre-slaughter housing of cattle in the slaughterhouse significantly affected the quality traits of beef obtained from young bulls (A) and bulls (B). Hence, the pre-slaughter handling should be differentiated according to the sex of animals – it may be more economically justified, despite higher cost, to keep males individually while heifers and cows in groups, prior to slaughter.
Authors and Affiliations
Andrzej Węglarz
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP70925
- DOI -
- Views 155
- Downloads 0
Hoof size as related to body size in the horse (Equus caballus)
The study was conducted to find out the most reliable parameter of the hoof size in relation to the horse body size, exemplified in mares. The mares of four breeds belonging to different origin types were examined: Pureb...
Influence of selected factors upon the blood loss from the carcasses of pigs free of the stress susceptibility gene (RYR1T)
The aim of the study was to determine the effect of road transport, lairage time, meat % and carcass weight, sex, and PPARGC1A gene polymorphism on the degree of blood loss after slaughter. The study was conducted on 350...
Activity of lysosomal enzymes in the liver and kidneys of mice after morphine administration
Used were ninety Swiss mice males divided into 9 groups (n=10). Three control groups [I, II, III] were injected with 0.9% NaCl solution, while six experimental groups (A, B, C, D, E, F) with the morphine hydrochloride. M...
Analysis of genetic structure of the Beagle population in the area of Cracow Branch of the Polish Kennel Club
Inbreeding and relationship are presented in the Beagle dog population as well as the contribution of founders and ancestors to the active population of Beagles recorded in the herdbook of the Cracow Branch of the Polish...
The effect of breed and the feeding system on the activity of glycosidases in cow’s milk
The aim of the study was to estimate the influence of the breeding and feeding system on the glycosidase activities in the cow’s milk. Experiment was carried out on three breed milking cow. Cows were divided into two gr...