Leather quality of beefalo‐Nellore cattle in different production systems

The aim was to compare the effects of two production systems on performance, carcass traits and physical‐mechanical characteristics of leather from Beefalo‐Nellore steers and heifers and to determine if the response to the production system was similar for both genders. A total of 40 Beefalo‐Nellore cattle, 20 steers and 20 heifers, were evaluated. Animals were divided into two production systems: slaughtered at 15 (intensive system) or 26 (extensive system) months of age. In the intensive system, all animals received a ration containing 600 g/kg corn silage and 400 g/kg concentrate. In the extensive system, animals were kept on a pasture predominantly based on Brachiaria sp. and supplemented with 2 kg/day concentrate. In the intensive system, there was no difference in slaughter weight (470 kg body weight) between steers and heifers but steers in the extensive system had greater slaughter weight than heifers (463 and 428 kg body weight, respectively). Leather weight was higher for animals in the intensive than extensive system but there was no difference in leather weight once excess fat was removed. Leather quality from Beefalo‐Nellore cattle slaughtered at 15 or 26 months of age is similar although carcass yield is higher for cattle slaughtered at a younger age.     

西门塔尔牛改良关岭黄牛的效果分析

2004~2006年对西×关F1杂交牛和关岭黄牛分别测定初生、6月龄、12月龄、18月龄各体尺体重指标,并于2006年对18月龄的西×关F1杂交牛和关岭黄牛进行屠宰测定各指标,同时对肉质进行品偿,结果显示:西×关F1杂交牛体型明显趋于父本,表现出良好的肉用体型,适应性强;挽力和持久力增强;生长发育迅速,屠宰率、净肉率分别比同龄的关岭黄牛提高18.4%、18.5%,差异极显著(P<0.01)。肉质细嫩和口感也有所改善。     

Longissimus muscle quality, palatability and connective tissue histological characteristics of bulls and steers fed different energy levels and slaughtered at four ages

One hundred forty-four Angus male calves were assigned to one of five slaughter-age groups: 9, 12, 15, 18 and 24 mo of age. After weaning, one-half of the calves within slaughter age were castrated. One-half of the 12-, 15-, 18- and 24-mo age groups of each sex were further randomly allotted to a high-energy (HE) or low-energy (LE) finishing diet. Eight bulls and eight steers assigned to the 9-mo slaughter group were fed the HE diet only. Samples from the longissimus muscle (LM) were taken at the 12th rib for histological evaluations of fat deposits. Thin sections from the LM at the 11th rib were stained for lipid, collagen and elastin. Steaks from the LM were cooked and evaluated by a sensory panel and sheared by a Warner-Bratzler shear (WBS) device. The 9-10-11th rib sections were separated into muscle, fat and bone. Collagen, elastin and collagen solubility were determined chemically. Bulls had heavier carcasses, less fat and lower sensory scores for tenderness and juiciness than steers. Steers fed the HE diet had lower WBS values than bulls on either diet. Cooking losses were higher for bulls at 12, 18 and 24 mo than for steers. Histological evaluation showed that collagen content was higher for bulls than for steers and higher for cattle fed the LE diet than those fed the HE diet. Among cattle on the HE diet, the 9-mo cattle had more collagen than all older groups. Neither sex nor diet had an effect on elastin content shown by histological evaluation, but 12-mo cattle had the most elastin and the 15- and 18-mo cattle had the least elastin. Collagen content determined by chemical analysis was not affected by sex, diet or slaughter age. Correlation coefficients among histologically and chemically evaluated collagen and elastin and meat traits were too low to be of practical importance. The time-intensive histological techniques used in our study provided little additional information over that obtained from visually evaluated or chemically measured meat traits.     

Yields of by-products from different cattle types

Slaughter cattle (n = 360), selected and allocated to types according to their phenotypic breed type characteristics, were slaughtered in lots of 15 head at a large commercial packing plant. By-product weights were obtained for these lots of 15 head after plant personnel had separated the by-products according to plant procedures. Percentage of slaughter weight in each by-product was calculated. The trait most influenced by cattle type was the hide; Bos indicus cattle generally had the greatest percentage of their live weights as hide (green, trimmed, fleshed or cured), and Holstein cattle generally had the lowest. For edible by-products, the liver differed significantly among cattle types, with Holstein cattle having the higher percentage of their live weight as liver. Other items studied were not significantly or economically different among cattle types.     

Stress reactions of cattle undergoing ritual slaughter using two methods of restraint

Studies were made of the behavioural and physiological reactions of cattle undergoing ritual slaughter in the Weinberg holding pen, in which the animal is inverted, and in the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) pen, in which the animal is standing. Behaviour was analysed with reference to the duration of the slaughter procedures by recording activities on an ethogram. Blood samples taken at slaughter were analysed for cortisol levels and haematocrit, and intramuscular pH was measured 45 minutes and 24 hours after slaughter. A wide range of activities was displayed in the ritually slaughtered cattle and these were particularly pronounced in the Weinberg pen. The mean time spent in the Weinberg pen was eight times longer than the time spent in the ASPCA pen. The cortisol and haematocrit values of cattle slaughtered in the Weinberg pen were significantly greater than those of cattle slaughtered in the ASPCA pen or cattle slaughtered conventionally. The results indicate that animals in the Weinberg pen experienced more stress than those in the ASPCA pen.     

Comparison of BSE prevalence estimates from EU countries for the period July to December 2001 to the OIE and EU GBR classifications

Consequent upon the bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) crisis, the European Union (EU) Commission enacted various decisions, which demanded that all bovine animals over 30 months of age should be examined by one of the approved rapid tests when slaughtered for human consumption. All cattle over 24 months of age subject to 'special emergency slaughtering' or died on the farm or in transit or suspect of BSE infection should also be examined by one of the approved rapid tests. According to a specific commission decision, Sweden and Finland were to test only a sample of bovine animals over 30 months of age subject to normal slaughter. Testing commenced on 1 January 2001. The authors evaluate the results of more than 5 million tests performed in the second semester 2001 from across the EU. The prevalence of BSE in the risk categories considered (emergency slaughter, fallen stock and healthy slaughtered), and the probability distribution of true-positive, false-positive and false-negative results are estimated by second-order Bayesian analysis. The results of the validation of tests performed in the EU are also considered by estimation of the probability distribution of their sensitivity and specificity. The prevalence of infection estimated in the cattle population of each EU country is compared against the criteria given in the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code and is also used to evaluate the consistency of the results of EU Geographical BSE Risk with the actual infection levels in the countries. Finally, the capability of the two current approaches to BSE surveillance (i.e. the testing of all slaughtered and dead cattle as applied in the EU and a surveillance system targeted at animals in risk categories only) to detect the infection in a given population are discussed.     

不同肉牛品种杂交西门塔尔杂种牛效果的研究

为了研究不同肉牛品种杂交改良西门塔尔杂种牛的效果,筛选出产肉量高、肉质好、抗逆性强的品种杂交组合,为大规模开展杂交提供依据,试验采用红安格斯、利木赞、夏洛莱(法系)、德国黄牛4个品种牛,分别杂交西门塔尔杂种母牛,产犊后从每个杂交组合中选择11头断奶小公牛,在相同饲养管理条件下持续育肥至18月龄,并进行屠宰和肉质评定。结果表明:红安西杂组合杂交效果最好,其次是利西杂及夏西杂,德黄西杂组合杂交效果较差。说明在生产实际中,如果采用断奶小公牛持续育肥至18月龄时出栏、屠宰,应优先选择红安格斯×西门塔尔杂交组合。     

江西地方品种黄牛产肉性能及肉品质分析研究

本研究选择18~24月龄广丰黄牛、吉安黄牛、锦江黄牛3个江西地方品种黄牛各3头,进行肉用性能和牛肉主要营养养分的测定分析。结果表明,广丰黄牛的骨率显著高于吉安黄牛(P<0.05);锦江黄牛与广丰黄牛、吉安黄牛相比屠宰率、净肉率较高,眼肌面积较大,但无显著差异(P>0.05);同时,锦江黄牛氨基酸总量低于其它品种,鲜味氨基酸、甜鲜味氨基酸高于其它品种,苦味氨基酸低于其它两品种,差异均不显著(P>0.05);各种氨基酸中,锦江黄牛赖氨酸和酪氨酸含量低于其它品种,但甘氨酸含量高于广丰黄牛,差异显著(P<0.05)。牛肉各种脂肪酸含量、硬脂肪酸总含量和不饱和脂肪总含量在品种间均无显著差异(P>0.05)。结果显示从常规养分含量、氨基酸、脂肪酸的营养价值评定方面,3个地方品种黄牛中,广丰黄牛、吉安黄牛优于锦江黄牛。     

BMY热带肉牛的生长性能研究

通过婆墨云(BMY)扩繁和婆罗门(BB)公牛与墨云(MY)母牛或婆墨(BM)公牛与婆云(BY)母牛杂交选育，至2000年底，累计形成BMY牛747头，共建立核心母牛群315头。BMY牛表现生长快成熟早，18月龄体重为成熟体重的80％；繁殖成活率为77．86％；在全放牧条件下，18月龄体重可达300kg以上，18月龄和30月龄牛的平均屠宰率达55．50％，平均净肉率为46．27％，分别比云南黄牛提高18．10和21．92个百分点，且优质切块占胴体重的39.3％。     

南德温西门塔尔与西杂牛杂种公犊育肥试验研究

选择南德温牛×本地西杂牛(NDW)、西门塔尔×本地西杂牛(XM)的4月龄杂交一代公犊各15头,分别作为试验组和对照组,在相同的饲料和饲养管理条件下育肥430 d,至18月龄屠宰.分析测定了两组牛不同育肥体尺、体重和日增重的变化情况及屠宰指标,试验结果表明:在8月龄、10月龄、13月龄阶段,两组体重、日增重差异显著(P＜0.05),对照组(XM)杂种公犊在育肥前期长势优于试验组(NDW),而在13月龄到18月龄之间,两组体重、日增重差异不显著(P＞0.05),说明试验组(NDW)杂种公犊在育肥后期长势明显,后期育肥效果优于对照组(XM).试验组和对照组屠宰率分别为56.21%和57.51%,差异不显著.因此,在相同条件下育肥后,XM公犊宜在18月龄出栏,而NDW公犊宜在18月龄后出栏.     

BMY热带肉牛的生长性能研究

通过婆莫云(BMY)扩繁和婆罗门(BB)公牛与莫云(MY)母牛或婆莫(BM)公牛与婆云(BY)母牛杂交选育，至2000年底，累计形成BMY牛747头，共建立核心母牛群315头。BMY牛表现出生长快成熟早的特点，18月龄体重为成熟体重的80％；繁殖成活率为77．86％；在全放牧条件下，18月龄体重可达300kg以上，18月龄牛的平均屠宰率达55．50％，平均净肉率为46．27％，分别比云南黄牛提高18．10和21．92个百分点，且优质切块占胴体重的39．3％。     

Aggressive and sexual behaviour of growing and finishing pigs reared in groups,without castration

Abstract

Aggressive and sexual behaviour in entire males and females were studied on 408 pigs. The sum of aggressive interactions in the pen during routine feeding (ALP) was lowest in single-sex pens with females. ALP was higher at 132 than at 155 days. High ALP correlated with high average growth rate. Aggressive interactions in a competition test (IA) increased after slaughter of the three fastest-growing pigs in a pen (at 155 days), although the slaughtered pigs had initiated the most IA earlier (at 132 days). Entire male pigs displayed more sexual behaviour (mounting) than females. In 15% of entire males and 6% of females there were health problems specifically involving lameness or injured legs or feet. Five entire males and one female were euthanized in response to lameness or leg fracture. The rearing of entire male pigs may cause welfare problems, given their higher levels of aggression and sexual behaviour.     

Effect of pre-slaughter handling on the behaviour and blood composition of beef cattle

The pre-slaughter handling, behaviour and blood composition of beef cattle at slaughter was studied in a commercial slaughterhouse. The main problems identified were the routine use of driving instruments and delays caused by stoppages in the slaughter line. The plasma concentration of cortisol at the time of slaughter was positively correlated with the time spent standing still and with the time spent in the pre-stun pen. The plasma activity of creatine kinase was positively correlated with the time spent in the race, but no correlations between creatine kinase and physical activity in the race were found. The plasma concentration of glucose was positively correlated with the time spent trotting and the number of times that struggling occurred. The proportions of cattle struggling, vocalizing and defaecating were greatest when they were confined in the race and pre-stun pen. Cattle kept overnight in the lairage had a greater concentration of free fatty acids at the time of slaughter than those slaughtered on the day of arrival. There were no other significant differences in either the blood composition or the handling and behaviour of cattle kept overnight in the lairage, compared with those slaughtered on the day of arrival. Some of the handling problems observed were caused by incorrect design of the handling facilities. There should be some means of removing cattle from a race if delays are encountered and some means of handling the cattle in the race other than by using an electrical goad. The optimal dimensions of races and passageways to prevent crowding and turning around should be assessed at the design stage. Non-slip floors are essential.     

Shedding and Seroprevalence of Pathogenic Leptospira spp. in Sheep and Cattle at a New Zealand Abattoir

A cross‐sectional study was carried out on sheep and cattle slaughtered at a New Zealand abattoir from September to November 2010 to investigate the supplier‐specific shedding rate, renal carriage rate and seroprevalence of leptospires. In the 2008/2009 season, this abattoir experienced three human leptospirosis cases from 20 staff, of which two were hospitalized. Urine, kidney and blood samples were collected from carcasses of 399 sheep (six suppliers, 17 slaughter lines) and 146 cattle (three suppliers, 22 slaughter lines). The urine and kidney samples were tested by quantitative real‐time PCR (qPCR), while serum samples (from coagulated blood samples) were tested by microscopic agglutination test (MAT). In total, 27% (73/274; 95% CI: 18–37) of urine samples tested positive by qPCR. Species‐specific shedding rates (prevalence of positive urine qPCR) were 31% (95% CI: 17–48) for sheep and 21% (95% CI: 14–30) for cattle. For 545 kidney samples tested, 145 were qPCR positive (27%; 95% CI: 17–39). The average prevalence of kidney qPCR positivity was 29% (95% CI: 17–45) for sheep and 21% (95% CI: 15–28) for cattle. Three hundred and thirty of 542 sampled sheep and cattle had antibodies against Leptospira borgpetersenii serovar Hardjobovis (Hardjobovis) and/or Leptospira interrogans serovar Pomona (Pomona), based on reciprocal MAT titre ≥1 : 48 (overall seroprevalence of 61%; 95% CI: 48–73). Seroprevalence was 57% (95% CI: 40–72) for sheep and 73% (95% CI: 59–83) for cattle. Among the seropositive animals, 41% (70/170; 95% CI: 30–54) were shedding (tested positive by urine qPCR) and 42% (137/330; 95% CI: 30–54) had renal carriage (tested positive by kidney qPCR). Some risk management options for abattoirs or farms to prevent human leptospirosis infections include vaccination of maintenance hosts, the use of personal protective equipment, and the application of urine qPCR to detect shedding status of stock as surveillance and as an alert.     

Meat quality characteristics of Turkish indigenous Hair goat kids reared under traditional extensive production system: effects of slaughter age and gender

Meat quality characteristics of Turkish indigenous Hair goat kids reared under an extensive production system were investigated in this study. A total of 60 Hair goat kids (30 females and 30 males) were slaughtered at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months of ages. Slaughter age significantly affected meat quality characteristics. Cooking loss (P?<?0.01) and shear force value (P?<?0.001) increased with age. Meat color became darker red with increasing slaughter age (P?<?0.001). The percentage of fat of musculus (M.) semimembranosus increased with age (P?<?0.01). The percentage of saturated fatty acids was significantly higher (P?<?0.01), whereas the percentage of unsaturated fatty acids was lower (P?<?0.001) in the M. longissimus dorsi of the kids slaughtered at 3 months of age than those in the other age groups. The females had higher intramuscular fat than that in males (P?<?0.001) and meat from male kids contained a higher percentage of polyunsaturated fatty acid than that from females (P?<?0.01). In conclusion, meat from Hair kids slaughtered between 3 and 9 months of ages had better quality than those slaughtered at the other ages and also meat from male kids had better quality than those female kids slaughtered at the same age under extensive production system.     

Risk of introduction of BSE into Japan by the historical importation of cattle from the United Kingdom and Germany

All cattle of UK and German origin imported to Japan since 1980 and slaughtered before 2002 were traced (n = 33 and 15 respectively) and the probability that none, one, two or three of these imported cattle had developed BSE (reached the end or last stage of incubation period) at the year of slaughter/death was calculated. The predicted risk that BSE was introduced into Japan by imported cattle was 0.18. Among cattle imported from these countries in various years, cattle imported from the UK in 1987 and 1988 presented the highest risk, while the risk that BSE entered Japan by live cattle imported from the UK in 1982 and from Germany in 1993 was negligible. Because there was no effective system to avoid the recycling of the BSE agent, those infected cattle imported from the UK in 1987 and 1988 most probably entered the feed chain in Japan in 1992 and 1993.     

皖南花猪部分屠宰性状的发育性变化及性别差异

为了研究皖南花猪部分屠宰性状的发育性变化及性别差异,试验采用0,30,45,90,180日龄的皖南花猪公、母各5头进行屠宰测定。结果表明:皖南花猪的各项屠宰指标都有不同程度的发育性变化,30日龄时,肾脏重有显著增长(P0.05),其他指标都有极显著增长(P0.01);在30～45日龄阶段,胴体斜长、膘厚、皮厚、肺脏重有显著增长(P0.05),但眼肌面积、心脏重、肝脏重、脾脏重、肾脏重增长不显著(P0.05);在45～180日龄阶段,所有指标都呈现快速的增长。出生和180日龄时,屠宰指标的性别差异均不显著(P0.05);30日龄时母猪的膘厚显著大于公猪(P0.05);45日龄时,母猪的胴体斜长和肝脏、脾脏、肾脏重显著小于公猪(P0.05);90日龄时母猪的胴体斜长显著大于公猪(P0.05);皖南花猪的肌内脂肪含量较高,且在背最长肌和半腱肌有不同的发育规律。     

Quantification of the relative efficiency of factory surveillance in the disclosure of tuberculosis lesions in attested Irish cattle

In Ireland, factory surveillance of cattle for gross lesions is an important supplementary method for detecting herds infected with bovine tuberculosis (tb), and in recent years between 27 and 46 per cent of all new herd breakdowns in any year have been detected by this method. The aim of this study was to determine the relative efficiency of factories in detecting lesions among attested cattle slaughtered during 2003 and 2004. National databases were available on animal slaughter, programmes of tuberculin testing for bovine tb and laboratory confirmation of suspected lesions. Factories were ranked according to their submission risk (number of animals submitted with lesions/number of attested animals killed) and confirmation risk (number of animals with laboratory-confirmed lesions/number of animals submitted with lesions), adjusting for the risk profile of the animals slaughtered, including potential confounding factors such as their age and sex, whether they were purchased or homebred, the test history of their herd, the prevalence of bovine tb in the area and the season of slaughter. Approximately 3.7 million cattle were slaughtered in 42 Irish export-licensed factories during the two years. Complete data were available for 2,374,987 animals from 84,510 attested herds in 2845 District Electoral Divisions. Samples from 7398 animals with suspected tb lesions were submitted for laboratory examination; 4767 (64.4 per cent) were positive, 2011 were negative and 620 were inconclusive. The average unadjusted submission risk for all the factories was 22 per 10,000, ranging from 0 to 58 per 10,000. The unadjusted factory confirmation risk (excluding factories that had sent in fewer than 10 lesions) varied between 34.3 per cent and 86.3 per cent. The unadjusted and adjusted submission and confirmation risks were highly correlated, and animal-related factors (including their characteristics and origin) therefore did not contribute to the variations in factory-level submission and confirmation risks.     

The distribution and prevalence of stephanofilariasis in cattle in Queensland

A total of 10,543 cattle from 1,386 farms throughout Queensland was examined at abattoirs and the presence of stephanofilarial lesions was related to property of origin, sex, breed, and age of the slaughtered cattle and season of slaughter. The mean prevalence was 38% and within the infected area this varied from less than 5% in south east Queensland to 95% on Cape York Peninsula. The prevalence of lesions was higher in bulls than in steers [corrected] and was least in cows [corrected]. Bos indicus animals had a lower prevalence than B. taurus. Prevalence increased with age. The distribution of the disease closely matched that of the buffalo fly, Haematobia irritans exigua.