A balanced perspective on animal welfare for improved meat and meat products

Ay Chulayo,V Muchenje

doi:10.4314/sajas.v45i5.2

Abstract

Increased public concern for animal welfare in the logistics chain has led to a rise in the scrutiny of the treatment of food animals. Factors affecting the status of welfare of slaughter animals begin at the farm and occur during transportation and at the abattoir. The activities that animals pass through before slaughter are thought to have negative effects on both the animal and the product. Before or during this period, animals suffer pain, which compromises their physical, health and biochemical status, and meat quality and quantity; which leads to economic losses. Environmental impact plays a role in the behaviour, growth, development and welfare of animals, even though it is associated with the production of greenhouse gases and biodiversity. Food producers are also mindful of the challenges of feeding the ever-increasing human population. Although the issues of animal production, which range from the environment to human health, have been discussed, animal welfare-related factors that are at play in the production chain of farm animals must still be addressed. An understanding of the animal’s environment, behaviour and the biochemical interactions that are at play in stressful conditions; and the implications of these for animal health and welfare are key to developing effective mitigation strategies. Therefore, the objective of this review is to highlight the literature on animal welfare, and suggest strategies that could be adopted for the improvement of meat animals, meat quality and meat products. Keywords: Avoidance behaviour, climate change, biotechnology, genetic modification, stress biomarkers, road transportation

Highlights

Because of the processes that are involved in animal production, transportation, slaughter and processing, consumers are concerned about the quality of meat
Changes in climate have led to modifications in the genetic makeup of animals and to the application of biotechnology to produce animals that provide healthy food
Increased scrutiny of animal welfare and animal-sourced food has led to growing understanding of the issues regarding the assessment of properties of meat and meat products in relation to the way in which the animals are treated

Summary

Introduction

Chulayo et al (2012), Gajana et al (2013), Stockman et al (2013) and Vimiso & Muchenje (2013) emphasized that animals experience stressful conditions in transportation, which negatively affect their welfare and meat quality. There is increased public concern about animal welfare in the production logistic chain. Such concerns require more research attention in order to avoid violations of animal rights (Grandin, 2005; Boissy et al, 2007; Fraser, 2008). During transportation, high ambient temperatures, truck vibration, movement and acceleration, confinement, noise and crowding expose animals to stress, which compromises their physiological and biochemical processes, meat quality and quantity, resulting in economic losses (Bourguet et al, 2011; Chulayo et al, 2012; Miranda-de la Lama et al, 2014). Animals experience excessive stress owing to a sudden change of environment, which increases the secretion of enzymes (creatine kinase, creatine phosphokinase, transaminases and lactate dehydrogenate) and hormones

Objectives

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Conclusion