THE IMPACT OF PRE-SLAUGHTER MANAGEMENT ON ANIMAL WELFARE AND BEEF QUALITY

Resumen

The growing concern with animal welfare and the quality of consumed food has directly impacted the market, especially with regard to beef, for which Brazil is the world’s largest exporter. Handling practices that prioritize cattle welfare are essential to meet consumer market demands and to ensure higher quality of the final product. The pre-slaughter period, which includes confinement, transportation, and handling from rural properties to slaughterhouse facilities, represents critical stages for the animals, since the stress caused can directly influence meat characteristics, altering pH, tenderness, juiciness, and color, and generating conditions such as DFD and PSE meat. Therefore, this study will address how proper pre-slaughter management influences both cattle welfare and meat quality. The hypothesis is that inadequate handling practices compromise meat quality, whereas the adoption of good practices can improve the sensory characteristics of the product, benefiting both consumers and producers.