Losses caused by carcass bruising in a packing plant in Goiás State

Abstract

The quality of meat is influenced by several aspects, among which post-vaccination abscesses and bruises stand out as primary factors for the condemnation of carcasses. However, economic losses resulting from improper handling practices can severely compromise the profitability of both the packing plant and the producer. The objective of this study was to estimate the frequency of occurrence of abscesses and bruises in carcasses of animals slaughtered in a packing plant and analyze the economic losses generated by them. The number of animals examined was determined according to the slaughter flow in the packing plant (10-20% of animals/day). Data pertaining to region and number of bruises, abscess location, weight of excised portions and distance from the municipalities of origin of the animals were collected and evaluated by descriptive statistical analysis. The occurrence of lesions was 78% trauma- and 45% abscess-derived. The presence of these lesions resulted in economic losses, representing a depreciation of BRL 2.99/animal in the profit obtained by the cattle farmer. A comparison between the “sex classes” and “bruising” factors revealed that the females had higher occurrence and distribution of bruises and abscesses than uncastrated and castrated males. Bruises were more frequent in the hindquarter region, regardless of the distance, while abscesses were restricted to the forequarter. The weight of discarded tissues was higher on farms less than 200 km away from the packing plant; however, these results were influenced by the number of animals evaluated in the group.

Main causes of cattle slaughter condemnation under the state sanitary inspection in Bahia, Brazil

“…9.013, 2017). According to Lima et al (2019), 45% of 1,730 half carcasses evaluated in a packing plant in Goias state, Brazil, had abscesses restricted to the forequarter, specifically in the chuck, shoulder, hump, and neck areas. In addition, lung abscesses were reported in levels between 2 and 3% in other studies in South Africa (Jaja, Mushonga, Green, & Muchenje, 2016) and were associated with pneumonia, penetration of lungs by foreign objects, and parasitism (Fekadu, Legesse, & Tesfaye, 2012).…”

“…Emphysema was the main cause of condemnation in Garanhuns micro-region (Pernambuco, Brazil) (Almeida, Silva, Torres, & Franque, 2017). In Goias state, abscesses and bruises were the main causes of condemnation (Lima et al, 2019).…”

From unloading to trimming: studying bruising in individual slaughter cattle

“…During marketing, cattle are exposed to many factors that have the potential to impact bruise prevalence at slaughter ( Warriss, 1990 ). Rough handling, mixing with horned animals, transport through auction markets, transport distance, density during transport, and facilities in poor condition have all been shown to increase the risk of bruising in cattle ( Shaw et al, 1976 ; Huertas et al, 2010 , 2018 ; Strappini et al, 2010 , 2012 ; Mendonça et al, 2016 ; Bethancourt-Garcia et al, 2019 ; Knock and Carroll, 2019 ; Lima et al, 2019 ). Furthermore, these factors can interact with one another and have a cumulative effect on bruising risk.…”

“…There has been considerable industry discussion and concern about how animal characteristics may impact bruise prevalence. Multiple studies have reported sex class as a factor associated with increased bruising, but many studies relate this finding to differences in behavior between sex classes rather than physical characteristics or breed type ( Mendonça et al, 2018 ; Knock and Carroll, 2019 ; Lima et al, 2019 ). The two primary factors associated with animal type that have been identified as potentially influencing the risk of increased bruising during the marketing process are the condition of culled cattle and the height of Holstein animals.…”