Abstract:
This study was carried out on cattle selected for slaughter at Batu, Meki and Shashemene
Municipal Abattoirs, with the objectives of assessing the effect of pre-slaughter handling
and welfare on meat quality from November 2016 to February 2017. A total of 300 cattles
from different market were selected randomly. For welfare assessment, the selected
animals were observed for behavior and pre-slaughter animal handling methods.
Information on potential risk factors such as handling method, access to feed and water
and other was also collected. Carcasses of the slaughtered animal was visually observed
for bruising, tested for pH24, cooking loss, and selected microbiological quality. The
relationship between pH24 value and cooking loss in meat was investigated. Frequently
exhibited behaviors by poorly-handled cattle were aggressiveness, vocalization 2, refusing
to leave, panting and resistance to being pulled. Beating the body, slapping, beating the
head and kicking animal were among the conspicuous methods by which the cattle were
handled. Mean ultimate pH and mean percent cooking loss of meat samples from the cattle
that were subjected to poor handling were significant (p < 0.05) at 6.18 ± 0.14 and 22.51
± 3.25, respectively. There was a strong negative correlation between ultimate pH and
percent cooking loss (r= -0.952). Of the 13 potential risk factors for cattle transported by
vehicle, poor handling during transportation, stocking density and stunning operation
have significantly associated with both poor welfare and meat quality. While, from 7
assessed risk factors for hoof trekked cattle, handling during transportation and access to
feed and water were found significantly associated with poor welfare but only handling
during stunning was found significantly associated with poor meat quality. Meat samples
from poorly handled cattle had significantly higher mean total plate count (P<0.05). All
meat samples collected from poorly handled animal was identified as dry firm and dark
meat, of which 31% had total plate counts greater than the minimum acceptable level for
cattle meat. In conclusion, the assessment indicated that welfare of most animal was
compromised and quality of the meat from poorly handled cattle was bargained. It is
therefore, suggested that awareness creation for stakeholders and regulations and
legislation needs to be implemented to improve animal welfare in study areas in particular
and in Ethiopia in general.
