Effects of transporting cows various distances on liveweight, carcase traits and muscle pH

Abstract

Two experiments in Queensland in 1979 examined the ettect on liveweight, carcase weight, bruising and muscle pH of transporting cows 460,870 or 2055 km to three abattoirs for slaughter. Resting, feeding and watering procedures at the abattoirs were based on commercial practices in experiment 1, but were standardized in experiment 2. The effect of transportation alone was studied in experiment 1, by holding additional cattle at the nearest abattoir and slaughtering them on the same day as the group transported 2055 km. All cows came from the same property. The greatest losses in liveweight occurred before cows reached the first abattoir. In experiment 1, mean initial liveweight decreased from 439 to 398 kg for cows travelling 460 km and to 390 kg after 2055 km. In experiment 2, the decreases were 434 to 389 and 375 kg, respectively. It was concluded that time between mustering and slaughter had a greater effect on carcase weight than distance travelled. Between three and eight days after mustering in experiment 1, carcase weight decreased from 230 to 225 kg, whether cows were travelling or held at an abattoir. Between 4.5 and 11 d in experiment 2, the decrease was from 226 to 21 9 kg. Carcase bruising increased when travelling distance exceeded 460 km, but the increase was small relative to losses in carcase weiaht. The DH of M. longissimus dorsi 24 h post-mortem did not increase necessarily with distance travelled.