Cattle characteristics and aversive experiences during the slaughtered in a conventional slaughterhouse

The aim of the study was to evaluate the influence of cattle characteristics [body condition (CC), pre-slaughter injuries (LP), pregnancy status (EP) and apparent emotional status (AEE)], slaughtereded in a conventional slaughterhouse, on the frequency of aversive events to animal welfare and meat quality. The slaughter of 99 bovines was made, quantifying the hits, twisted tails, operator shouts, punctures, time of each stage, slips, falls, vocalizations and incorporation attempts. pH0h, pH1h, pH24h and drip loss were determined in the Longissimus dorsi et lumborum muscle. The data was analyzed under a Complete Random Design (DCA). An inverse correlation was found between CC and LP (P<0.05), where cattle with lower CC presented more pre-slaughter injuries. During driving, more hits, operator shouts, driving time and time between shoot down and bleeding were associated with cattle with nervous AEE. During restraint, more falls occurred in cattle from 2/3 of pregnancy, and the restraint time was longer in CC<2.75. In the shoot down, a higher frequency of operator shouts and number of punctures occurred in CC>3.25. Under the conditions of this study, no differences were found in pH and PG% according to CC, LP or EP; however, cattle with calm AEE had lower PG% than nervous AEE (P<0.05), probably with a state of greater excitement and stress. Meat quality is affected by AEE, but it is necessary to establish improvements in management practices and desensitization in slaughter, in order to reduce the time of stressful events.