WELFARE AND HYGIENE DURING PRESLAUGHTER HANDLING

This review considers some of the ways in which welfare is compromised during preslaughter handling and it examines some effects of preslaug hter handling methods on cal cass hygiene. There are many ways in whic h animals suffer during the preslaughter period. They include metaboli c exhaustion, dehydration, death during transport, emotional and tempe rature stress, bruising, torn skin, and, sickness and disease. Recent research findings on the effects of preslaughter stress on muscle glyc ogen metabolism and dark firm dry meat are reviewed. Copyright (C) 199 6 Elsevier Science Ltd