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Origin and assessment of bruises in beef cattle at slaughter

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 May 2009

A. C. Strappini ,
J. H. M. Metz ,
C. B. Gallo  and
B. Kemp
A. C. Strappini*
Affiliation:
Adaptation Physiology Group, Wageningen University, PO Box 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, The Netherlands Instituto de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Casilla 567, Valdivia, Chile
J. H. M. Metz
Affiliation:
Farm Technology Group, Wageningen University, PO Box 17, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands
C. B. Gallo
Affiliation:
Instituto de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Casilla 567, Valdivia, Chile
B. Kemp
Affiliation:
Adaptation Physiology Group, Wageningen University, PO Box 338, 6700 AH, Wageningen, The Netherlands
*
E-mail: ana.strappini@wur.nl
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Abstract

Studies of bruises, as detected on carcasses at the slaughterhouse, may provide useful information about the traumatic situations the animals endure during the pre-slaughter period. In this paper, we review scientific data on the prevalence, risk factors and estimation of the age of bruises in beef cattle. Risk factors such as animal characteristics, transport conditions, stocking density, livestock auction and handling of the animals are discussed. Investigation of the age of bruises could provide information on when in the meat chain bruises occur and, could help to pinpoint where preventive measures should be taken, from the stage of collecting the animals on the farm until slaughter. We review the methods available to assess the age of the bruises; data on human forensic research are also included. The feasibility to identify traumatic episodes during the pre-slaughter period, in order to improve animal welfare is discussed.

Keywords

bruisebeef cattleage of bruisesanimal welfare
Type
Full Paper
Information
animal , Volume 3 , Issue 5 , May 2009 , pp. 728 - 736
Copyright
Copyright © The Animal Consortium 2009

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