O clima e as condições às quais os animais são expostos no período que antecede o abate impactam de maneira marcante na qualidade da carne, aspecto que adquire maior importância devido às recentes mudanças climáticas e às previsões de aumento no aquecimento global. Neste contexto, a presente revisão tem como objetivo abordar as principais características qualitativas da carcaça e da carne ovina, buscando relacioná-las com os efeitos do clima e do estresse térmico no pré-abate. Dentre as variáveis climáticas, temperatura e umidade do ar elevadas, em especial, apresentam efeitos marcantes na qualidade da carne. Essas condições climáticas, quando em graus elevados, ocasionam um desequilíbrio fisiológico que tem efeito direto sobre as reservas de glicogênio muscular, responsável pelas reações bioquímicas post mortem, afetando as características físicas, químicas e sensoriais da carne. É necessário adequar práticas de manejo e instalações almejando, a priori, a obtenção de melhores condições de bem-estar dos animais frente às condições climáticas estressantes, favorecendo assim, a obtenção de carcaças e de carnes com atributos sensoriais favoráveis do ponto de vista dos consumidores.

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The objective of this study was to examine the effects of behavioral differences in cattle on bruising on different cuts and on carcass yield. A total of 4,061 lots of cattle were evaluated, which corresponded to 199,026 carcasses. Animal temperament was classified as calm, anxious, or excited. The following carcass cuts were evaluated: round, rump, shin, thin flank, tenderloin, and rib. Of the total number of slaughtered animals, 68.26% had at least one type of bruise with complete removal of the affected tissue. There was an interaction effect between sex and temperament on the occurrence of bruises on the different cuts and on carcass yield. In castrated males, bruises on the round, rump, shin, and tenderloin cuts did not differ between temperament classes, but the excited males showed more bruises on the thin flank and rib cuts. Among the females, for all cuts, the number of bruises was higher (P<0.05) in those with excited temperament than in the anxious and calm animals, which did not differ (P>0.05). Additionally, carcass yield relative to plant weight decreased (P<0.05), with the calm females exhibiting the highest values, followed by those with anxious and excited temperament. In the castrated males, however, although performance declined, those with anxious and excited temperament did not differ (P>0.05). Females and more reactive animals have more bruises on their carcass.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of animal type, on-farm handling, and transport conditions on temperament of beef cattle pre-slaughter. The study evaluated 4,061 cattle batches, averaging 49 animals, with a total of 199,026 cattle. Temperament was evaluated through a behavioral assessment carried out based on the temperament shown by cattle when approached by humans. One of three different temperament scores were assigned to each batch: calm, anxious, or excitable. Excitable temperament was reported in animals subjected to long transport time and distance and high loading density. The degree of carcass fatness was higher in calm animals, followed by anxious animals, with the excited temperament animals having the lowest carcass fatness degree. Older animals showed more excitable temperament, while younger animals showed calmer temperament. The excitable temperament was more evident in horned animals in relation to polled animals. Animal temperament was more reactive in batches with older cattle, low carcass fatness degree, and with more than 20% horned animals. Good handling and loading facilities and procedures at the farm contributed to adequate cattle temperament expression prior to slaughter.