Dark Cutting Incidence in Holstein Friesian, Brown Swiss and Eastern Anatolian Red Cattle Slaughtered Under Turkish Commercial Slaughter Conditions

Abstract

The aim of this study was to compare the incidence of dark cutting (DC) in Holstein Friesian (HF, n=382), Brown Swiss (BS, n=294) and Eastern Anatolian Red (EAR, n=212) male cattle slaughtered under Turkish commercial slaughter conditions. The importance of some factors (transport distance from farm to abattoir, lairage time, waiting type at abattoir, carcass weight and behaviour prior to slaughter) influencing of normal, moderate DFD and DFD carcass frequency on breed were also evaluated. There was influence of breed on the incidence of dark cutting condition. In HF, BS and EAR, males produced 54, 47 and 68% moderate DFD carcasses; 23, 34 and 25% DFD carcasses, respectively. Normal carcass percentage was lower in EAR (8%) compared to in HF (24%) and BS (19%). The results show that there were apparent differences in behaviour of these breeds prior to slaughter. During slaughter BS and EAR males had more excitable temperament than HF males. The present study also indicated that the incidence of dark cutting was higher for long haul transport and short lairage time. But, we concluded that the main cause of dark cutting of breed was the free waiting of animals at abattoir pens until slaughter under Turkish commercial slaughter conditions.