Evaluation bruises incidence in cattle slaughtered in a slaughterhouse located in São Paulo, Brazil
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17523/bia.2025.v82.e1943Keywords:
animal welfare, bovine transport, bruisesAbstract
Pre-slaughter handling of cattle can increase animal stress, making them more susceptible to carcass bruising. Such bruising negatively impacts the beef production chain, affecting both producers and slaughterhouses. In this context, the present study aimed to evaluate the incidence of bruises in cattle carcasses at a slaughterhouse located in the northwest region of São Paulo State, Brazil, under the supervision of the State Inspection Service (SISP). A total of 1,068 carcasses were assessed between September and December 2021. Data were collected on breed type, sex, age, travel distance, and truck model, along with the extent, severity, and location of the bruises. Among the evaluated carcasses, 64.7% were crossbred (zebu and taurine). The findings indicated that older females, with slaughter age of 25 to 36 months, were more susceptible to bruises compared to males. The hindquarter cuts were the most affected areas, with a predominance of bruises in animals transported by truck over distances of 101 to 150 km. Furthermore, the most frequent bruises were classified as grade II (51.4%) and measured between 6 and 10 cm in size (36.8%). Various factors contribute to the occurrence of bruises in beef cattle such as racial pattern, gender, age and distance travel, however, most of these factors could be prevented or mitigated through proper management practices during the pre-slaughter period.
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