Bem-estar animal no transporte e sua influência na qualidade da carne bovina - uma revisão

Abstract

The animal welfare has been increasing in importance in the beef chain. Consumers are demanding more quality and origin of the food that they are consuming. Cattle are hardy animals, but they need to be handled by anyone who knows their behavior to prevent economic loss, damage to facilities and accidents with the workers. The control of the amount and location of bruises present on the carcasses of slaughtered cattle is a factor in assessing the animal welfare, since their presence is an indicative of an inadequate management of the animal. The carcass quality can be compromised by injuries that may occur during handling at the property, boarding of animals to transport , and handling corrals in the fridge. During transport factors such as density, duration, distance and temperature have great influence on carcass yield and meat quality . Road transport and rough handling of animals are important factors that lead to financial losses due to bruising and subsequent removal of the affected parts of the carcass. These injuries are directly related to the product quality and with economic losses for producers and fridge. The requirements for animal welfare , are not only related to the moral and ethical , but also to the events from the property until the slaughter of cattle , that influence on the final meat quality causing a strong economic impact. The failure to use management techniques that prioritize the welfare causes in the animal stress before slaughtering , compromising the meat quality, with a loss of carcasses and decreased external market.