Relação dos fatores de manejo pré-abate e incidência de hematomas em carcaças de bovinos de corte

Abstract

Contusions in cattle are a challenge for the livestock industry, directly impacting the quality of the meat and the profitability of the sector. These injuries, often caused during handling and transport, result in significant losses as the affected areas need to be discarded. The objective of this work was to characterize the occurrence of bruises on bovine carcasses, describing the quantity, location, depth and time since their occurrence, considering different variables. The study was carried out in a slaughterhouse located in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, where 8,563 beef carcasses were evaluated. Bruises were classified according to the place of occurrence (front, loin, flank and rear), by evaluating their color, quantity and depth. The study considered both qualitative and quantitative variables, grouping based on factors such as sex, dentition, type of transport and distance traveled. For data analysis, Factor Analysis of Mixed Data (FAMD) was applied, allowing an integrated assessment of the different variables and their influence on the distribution of the groups. The results showed that bruises occurred most frequently on the forequarters and hindquarters, followed by the loin. It was observed that females had a higher incidence of injuries when compared to males and that animals on long journeys tend to be more prone to bruising. It is concluded that the female animal category deserves extra care when handling pre-slaughter, and that long journeys tend to increase the incidence and risk of bruising on cattle carcasses.