The effects of stress on Livestock and meat quality prior to and during slaughter.
Animal welfare hammers on 5 freedoms for animals among these are : 1) freedom from pain,injury and disease.
2) Freedom from hunger and thirst.
3)Freedom to express normal natural behavior.
4)Freedom from discomfort.
5)Freedom from fear and distress.
The aforementioned freedoms can be referred to holistically as freedom from stress. Stress impacts health, production, productivity as well as carcass quality in Livestock.
The effects of stress on Livestock and meat quality prior to and during slaughter.
Animals presented for slaughtering in a stress free environment has natural conversion of muscle to meat, PH will fall from 7 to about 5.4-5.7. The meat quality is excellent and has bright red color.
Animals that experience stress 24-48 hours prior slaughter have meat quality compromised.The PH does not fall to optimum level staying higher resulting in beef with darker color. The beef is dark, firm to touch and has high fluid holding capacity. This is referred to as dark, firm and dry.(DFD). Beef that are DFD have poor storing capacity and prone to bacterial spoilage.
Animals that are stressed 45 minutes prior to slaughter also give beef of low quality.The short period of stress prior to slaughter will cause a rapid drop of PH..This drop will result in beef of lighter color, softer texture which feels wet with reduced capacity to hold water. This type of beef is referred to as soft, pale and exudative.(PSE)
