Effect of journey time and environmental condition on bull behaviour and beef quality during road transport in northern Italy.
Response to a transport time of 1 and 3 hours on the road carried out under different environmental conditions was evaluated on 60 pure-breed Charolaise bulls. Temperature and relative humidity from loading to slaughter were expressed as THI (Temperature-Humidity Index). Regardless of journey time or environmental conditions, the most common standing orientation was either perpendicular or parallel to the direction of travel. Diagonal orientation increased with THI class. Cortisol and glucose plasma concentrations increased because of transport but they were not influenced by journey time or THI class. The CK plasma concentration, instead, increased according to THI class. The incidence of carcass bruising was not affected by the journey time or by the environmental conditions. Journey time also had a negligible effect on beef quality while, meat lightness increased and water holding capacity slightly decreased depending on THI.
Nanni Costa
L
L
Sezione Allevamenti Zootecnici, Dipartimento di Protezione e Valorizzazione Agroalimentare (DIPROVAL), Faculty of Agriculture, University of Bologna, Reggio Emilia, Italy. nannicosta@stpa.unibo.it
Lo Fiego
D P
DP
Cassanelli
M G
MG
Tassone
F
F
Russo
V
V
D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D002417:Cattle / Q000097:blood / Q000502:physiology*; D003402:Creatine Kinase / Q000097:blood; D006813:Humidity; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat / Q000592:standards*; D011897:Random Allocation; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors; D014186:Transportation
D001786:Blood Glucose; D003402:Creatine Kinase; D006854:Hydrocortisone