Biochemical profiles and physicochemical parameters of beef from cattle raised under contrasting feeding systems and pre-slaughter management

PIGHÍN, DARÍO GABRIEL; DAVIES, P.; PAZOS, A.A.; CECONI, I.; CUNZOLO, S.A.; MENDEZ, D.; BUFFARINI, M.; GRIGIONI, G.

ANIMAL PRODUCTION SCIENCE

CSIRO PUBLISHING

Lugar: Collingwood; Año: 2015 vol. 55 p. 1310 - 1317

1836-5787

Diet and pre-slaughter stress are key factors that may affect the biochemical processes during conversionof muscle into meat. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of two different pre-slaughter stressmanagements (PSM) at a slaughterhouse in Angus steers raised and finished in two contrasting feeding systems (FSgrain and pasture systems), on the peri mortem muscle metabolism, and its relation to of meat quality. Results obtainedshowed that a higher level of pre-slaughter stress increased (P < 0.05) glucose, lactate and proteins blood levels anddecreased (P < 0.05) the redness (a* parameter) of adipose tissue. Regarding feeding strategy, pasture-fed animals displayedincreased (P < 0.05) levels of haematocrit and insulin concentrations, and higher (P < 0.05) muscle pH decrease duringthe first 3 h post mortem. Despite final pH (pH 24 h) of M. longissimus dorsi (LD) was not significantly modified, LDhardness was significantly affected by an interaction effect of FS and PSM. Lower pre-slaughter stress level led to adecrease (P < 0.05) of LD hardness in grain-fed animals. In general terms, results showed an impact of PSM and FS onmeat quality through pH-independent mechanisms.