Probability and number of bruises in bovine carcasses according to animal type, handling and transport.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate pre-slaughter risk factors on the probability of bruising and the number of bruises in different regions of the bovine carcass. The study evaluated the data from 4061 batches of slaughtered cattle, totalling 199,026 carcasses, from Hereford and Aberdeen Angus animals in crosses with continental European breeds and Zebu cattle. The factors that caused injury were sex, handling conditions (score), vehicle type, vehicle load density (kg/m2), travel time (minutes), travel distance (kilometres), physiological maturity (dentition), animal reactivity (score), and carcass fat (score). The type of vehicle had the greatest influence on the probability of carcass bruising and affected all carcass cuts. More bruising occurred in vehicles with a greater load capacity. A higher chance of bruising was seen in groups of older animals, those with an excitable temperament and, especially, in groups of females. Higher load densities during transport resulted in a greater chance of bruising occurring in all cuts except the hindquarters. Distance and travel time are unstable in the models, but also detrimental, increasing the probability of bruising and the number of bruises in the various cuts. The results of this study suggest that good practices in the welfare, handling and transport of the animals, as well as training the personnel responsible for their handling, should be adopted to minimise the risk of injury at different locations on the carcass.