Longitudinal analysis of pre-slaughter factors influencing the incidence of injuries in beef carcasses

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Abstract

The study aimed to analyze and quantify the potential factors contributing to carcass injuries in beef cattle. Data were obtained from 1,980 batches (117,241 carcasses) of animals slaughtered at a federally inspected (SIF) slaughterhouse located in the state of Pará, Brazil, representing the total annual slaughter volume of the facility. The data cover the period from May 2020 to May 2021 and were analyzed using binomial regression. The results indicated that sex was the most influential variable in model development, with batches of female animals exhibiting a 24 % higher likelihood of presenting carcass bruises compared to batches of males. The presence of horned animals increased the odds of carcass injuries by 120 % in mixed batches and by 473 % in batches composed exclusively of horned animals, relative to batches of polled cattle. A total of 9,653 injured carcasses were recorded, with an average of 4.87 injured carcasses per batch. The analysis further revealed that transport distances exceeding 800 km increased the probability of injuries by 188 %. In summary, transport conditions, travel distance, and loading densities were identified as the most significant factors associated with carcass injuries. The study highlights the importance of monitoring the conditions to which animals are exposed prior to slaughter, as these factors have a direct impact on production parameters and commercial value. The findings underscore the necessity of implementing practices that reduce stress and promote animal welfare throughout the production chain.
Keywords: pre-slaughter handling; animal welfar; beef cattle farming.

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Published

2025-12-22

How to Cite

RIBEIRO, Eleanatan Syanne da Cruz; ABREU, Natan Lima; MOURÃO, Alessandra de Souza; COUCEIRO, Giselle Almeida; VAZ, Ricardo Zambarda; AZEVEDO, Jorge Cardoso de; SILVA, Thiago Carvalho da; FATURI, Cristian. Longitudinal analysis of pre-slaughter factors influencing the incidence of injuries in beef carcasses. Brazilian Animal Science/ Ciência Animal Brasileira, Goiânia, v. 27, 2025. Disponível em: https://revistas.ufg.br/vet/article/view/80806. Acesso em: 13 jan. 2026.

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Vol. 27 (2026): Continuous publication

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ANIMAL SCIENCE

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