Effect of pre-slaughter fasting duration on physiology, carcass and meat quality in beef cattle finished on pastures or feedlot. (May 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Clariget, Juan; Banchero, Georgget; Luzardo, Santiago; Fernández, Enrique; Pérez, Eduardo; La Manna, Alejandro; Saravia, Anderson; del Campo, Marcia; Ferrés, Alvaro; Canozzi, Maria Eugênia Andrighetto
• Is Part Of: Research in veterinary science. Volume 136(2021)
• Page Start: 158
• Page End: 165
• Publication Date: 2021-05
• Subjects: Dehydration -- Feed withdrawal -- Lairage -- Pre-slaughter handling -- Stress; Veterinary medicine -- Periodicals; Veterinary Medicine -- Periodicals; Médecine vétérinaire -- Périodiques; Médecine vétérinaire -- Recherche -- Périodiques; Diergeneeskunde; 636.089
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2021.02.018
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0034-5288

Abstract

Abstract: Pre-slaughter fasting duration affect blood parameters related to stress and metabolism, decrease live and carcass weights and impact beef quality of cattle. In three experiments, 1100 steers and heifers, finished on feedlot or on pasture, were evaluated to assess the influence of the site and duration of fasting before slaughter on physiological, carcass and meat quality traits. Cattle were allocated to one of two fasting duration - long (23–29 h) or short (2–6 h) – and to one of two sites of fasting– farm or abattoir. All animals had access to water ad libitum until slaughter, except during transportation. Cattle were assigned to two (long fasting on abattoir/normal lairage time, short fasting on farm/minimal lairage time) or three (long fasting on abattoir/normal lairage time, short fasting on farm/minimal lairage time, long fasting on farm/minimal lairage time) treatments. Seventeen slaughters were considered in a randomized complete block design. There was no effect of the site of fasting on any variable. Cattle with short fasting duration had higher carcass weights and water consumption than those under long fasting duration. Haematocrit, globulin, total protein, and lactate dehydrogenase at the time of slaughter increased with fasting duration. There was no effect of the duration of fasting on blood ions, meat quality traits, urine pH, liver weight and volume, and skin dry matter. A reduction in the fasting duration returned to farmers and abattoirs 1.2% additional kilograms of carcass, suggesting an improvement in animal welfare according to a better hydration level of cattle at the time of slaughter. Highlights: Stress during pre-slaughter is inevitable in beef cattle production. Decrease in fasting time could improve physiology, carcass, and meat quality in cattle. Steers from short fasting (2–6 h vs. 23-29 h) treatment had higher carcass weight. Haematocrit increased and water consumption decreased with fasting duration. Meat quality traits were not affected by fasting.