Evaluation of bruises as an animal welfare indicator during pre-slaughter of beef cattle

Objective: To evaluate and characterize the bruises occurring during the pre-slaughter of beef cattle in a commercial slaughterhouse, and to identify the risk factors involved. Methods: a cross sectional- study was conducted on 2,288 carcasses evaluating transport conditions, animal characteristics, severity, extent, and location of the bruises to determine the prevalence and associated risk factors. Results: The bruising prevalence was 84.3%. Sex, weight, stocking density and lairage time were associated with the presence of bruising (p0.005). Conclusions: results suggest that animal welfare conditions of the evaluated cattle are deficient. Several factors should be improved, such as: training the staff, reducing the lairage time, preventive maintenance for equipment, specialized transportation, sanitary design strategies, and divulgation of sanitary laws, among others.Objetivo: avaliar, identificar fatores de risco e caracterizar as lesões presentes em 2288 carcaças num abatedouro comercial. Métodos: se realizou um estudo descritivo de corte transversal, onde foram avaliadas as condições de transporte, estadia no local, características dos animais, estado de gravidez e localização e extensão das lesões na carcaça. Resultados: a prevalência das lesões foi de 84.3%. O sexo, peso, densidade de carga e o tempo de permanência no abatedouro foram associados à presença de hematomas (p0.005). Conclusiones: los resultados sugieren que las condiciones de bienestar animal de los bovinos evaluados son deficientes. Se requiere la capacitación y el entrenamiento del personal, la disminución de los tiempos de permanencia en la planta de sacrificio, el mantenimiento preventivo de equipos, transporte especializado, estrategias de diseño sanitario y la divulgación de la legislación sanitaria