EFFECT OF PRE-SLAUGHTER HANDLING AND WELFARE ON CATTLE MEAT QUALITY AT BATU, MEKI AND SHASHEMENE MUNICIPAL ABATTOIRS, OROMIA REGION, ETHIOPIA

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.