title: Effects of stress by unfamiliar sounds on carcass and meat traits in bulls from three continental beef cattle breeds at different ageing times.
abstract: One-hundred-and-twenty-four young bulls of three Continental beef cattle breeds were used to study the effect of pre-slaughter stress by unfamiliar sounds on carcass traits and quality characteristics of beef aged for three different periods. Stress due to unfamiliar noises had a moderately negative effect on carcass and meat quality. Carcasses from group Stressed had higher (P<0.05) values of pH0, pH24, a*, and Warner-Bratzler shear force, and lower (P<0.05) values of L*, b* and pressure losses than from Unstressed animals. There were significant differences (P<0.05) among breeds in L*, a* and pressure losses. The ageing time had a significant effect on chromatic variables, WBSF and pressure losses. The cooking losses were not significantly affected by any of the three factors discussed. These results emphasize the importance of implementing appropriate management practices during pre-slaughter handling of cattle in order to reduce any possible risk factor for stress, as well as the different sensitivity of the breeds to similar stimuli.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Producción Animal, Universidad de Córdoba, Ctra. Madrid, Cádiz Km. 396-a, 14071 Córdoba, Spain. Electronic address: pa1peblf@uco.es.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Peña
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Producción Animal, Universidad de Córdoba, Ctra. Madrid, Cádiz Km. 396-a, 14071 Córdoba, Spain.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Avilés
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Producción Animal, Universidad de Córdoba, Ctra. Madrid, Cádiz Km. 396-a, 14071 Córdoba, Spain.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Domenech
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Producción Animal, Universidad de Córdoba, Ctra. Madrid, Cádiz Km. 396-a, 14071 Córdoba, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: González
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Producción Animal, Universidad de Córdoba, Ctra. Madrid, Cádiz Km. 396-a, 14071 Córdoba, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Genética, Universidad de Córdoba, Ctra. Madrid, Cádiz Km. 396-a, 14071 Córdoba, Spain.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Molina
mesh_terms: D000161:Acoustic Stimulation / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D003116:Color; D003296:Cooking; D005511:Food Handling / Q000379:methods; D063427:Food Quality; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat / Q000032:analysis*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal; D010858:Pigmentation; D013016:Sound; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors; D014828:Vocalization, Animal
keywords: Ageing; Charolais; Instrumental evaluation; Limousin; Pre-slaughter conditions; Retinta