Meat quality, biosecurity, and animal welfare: consequences of an inefficient inspection

Abstract

In livestock, biosecurity, animal welfare and meat quality have a synergetic effect on the final product. To meet minimal safety and humane production, it is necessary to consider biosecurity risks and procedures to mitigate animal welfare problems. Following guidelines to achieve it, the meat quality improves consequently. Here we tested two parameters regarding the meat quality of beef cattle to understand how the poor inspection affects the quality of the final product. Therefore, 12 samples of the longissimus dorsi muscle were evaluated from different butcheries, using fresh meat recently received by the supplier. There were no sanitary inspection records related to the sampled meat. The results showed a large percentage of PSE (pale, soft, and exudative) and DFD (dark, firm, and dry) meats. Given the pH and color values, it is concluded that the slaughtering was not carried out properly. Hence, technological defects in the meat were observed, making it inappropriate for consumption. We concluded that inefficient pre-slaughter handling is compromising animal welfare, increasing the biosecurity risk, and impairing the quality of the final product. We argue that these problems not only decrease the sustainability of livestock systems, but also compromises human health. Currently, livestock plays an important role in global environmental concerns, such as climate change, land degradation, water pollution and biodiversity loss. Then, it is needed to reduce the waste of such products.