INCIDENCE RATE AND ECONOMIC LOSSES BY HEMATOMAS IN BEEF CATTLE AT DIFFERENT TRANSPORT DISTANCES TO THE REFRIGERATOR IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF CACOAL - RO

Abstract

Bruises are one of the main causes of loss of carcass yield, in addition to the large defects in quality, it is what causes monetary loss for both producers and industries, these injuries are due to improper handling of animals, such as the form of containment or transport and road conditions, which unfortunately leads to about 1% to 2% weight loss per hot carcass. Inspection Services require that these lesions be removed during the slaughter process. The bruises are measures referring to sizes and depths, they are classified in Grade I, reaching only the subcutaneous (fat), Grade II (reaching the subcutaneous and a certain layer of the muscle) and Grade III (reaching a good part of the muscle and can condemn good part of the carcass). However, cattle from 21 municipalities in the State of Rondônia, located in the Northern Region of the country, were slaughtered. 1996 animals presented some type of hematoma, among the carcasses studied, the hindquarters was one of the most affected regions. In conclusion, the distance between the properties and the industry had a significant effect on the results obtained, along with the sex and age of the animals.