Effect of Different Finishing Strategies and Steer Temperament on Animal Welfare and Instrumental Meat Tenderness

Abstract

The aim of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of different fattening systems from pasture to concentrate and temperament on animal welfare (AW) and meat quality (MQ). Eighty-four Hereford steers were randomly assigned to the following groups: T1, pasture (4% of animal live weight: LW); T2, pasture (3% LW) plus concentrate (0.6% LW); T3, pasture (3% LW) plus concentrate (1.2% LW); T4, an ad libitum concentrate treatment. Temperament was assessed by three individual tests: crush score, flight time, and exit speed, building a multicriterial temperament index (TIndex). The flight zone was also registered for each treatment. AW was assessed through the integration of indicators of productivity, physiology, and behavior, as well as by monitoring the health status within each treatment. Shear force was registered for MQ. Differences in average daily gain were due to the different energetic composition of the diets (T4 > T3 > T2 > T1) and were not attributable to animal welfare problems. Animals from T4 had the higher average daily gain (ADG) but welfare was negatively affected, being evident through physiological indicators, the restriction or deprivation of relevant behaviors, diet-related diseases, and mortality. T1, T2, and T3 did not appear to compromise animal welfare. However, strict preventive measures and monitoring should be taken during the habituation process and when using any new diet that includes concentrate, because of possible dietary diseases. Shear force values were lower in T1. None of the animals in our experiment were excitable or aggressive, but there was a positive response to handling in all treatments. In addition, regardless of diet, calmer animals had higher average daily gain and lower shear force values; thus, temperament appears to have a significant influence on productivity and meat quality.

Effect of Finishing Diet and Lairage Time on Steers Welfare in Uruguay

“…The short lairage group had a higher frequency of rumination ( Figure 3 , p < 0.05). Animals are known to ruminate while resting [ 89 ], and time spent ruminating is a direct indicator of animal welfare [ 90 ]. However, our results could be better explained by the experimental schedule defined to reach the stipulated preslaughter waiting hours, as mentioned in Section 2.2 .…”

Investigating the impact of pre-slaughter management factors on indicators of fed beef cattle welfare – a scoping review

“…Related, cattle being transported from farms over 80 miles away from the abattoir drank significantly more than cattle transported for shorter distances (Jarvis et al, 1996a) from the extended water deprivation period. Cattle ruminate while resting, and time spent ruminating is a direct indicator of animal welfare status in ruminants (del Campo et al, 2021). del Campo et al (2021) reported that as lairage time increased (from 3 to 15 hours), the frequency of rumination decreased from approximately 40% to 15% of time; one study reported that rumination decreased by as much as 34% when cattle were held for over 12 hours (Mach et al, 2007), a finding that was likely partially related to gut fill.…”

“…Cattle ruminate while resting, and time spent ruminating is a direct indicator of animal welfare status in ruminants (del Campo et al, 2021). del Campo et al (2021) reported that as lairage time increased (from 3 to 15 hours), the frequency of rumination decreased from approximately 40% to 15% of time; one study reported that rumination decreased by as much as 34% when cattle were held for over 12 hours (Mach et al, 2007), a finding that was likely partially related to gut fill. In summary, many factors can influence the expression of behaviors during the preslaughter phase, however, past research does show that cattle still have the ability to express highly motivated behaviors at different points in the pre-slaughter period.…”