Antemortem Exploration of the Effect of Human Behavior on Beef Carcass Bruising
ISSN 2158-9429
Volume 15, Issue 2 - December 2022
Editor: Linda Chalker-Scott
Abstract
The ability of beef producers and processors to experience profit is largely reliant on a quality product free of blemish, bruise, and excessive trim loss. Carcass bruising is a contributor to this loss of saleable product, and can be attributed to a multitude of animal, human, and facility-related factors. This study examined beef carcass bruising throughout pre-harvest handling through physical observation of trailer unloading, handling within processing areas, and evaluation of facilities to determine whether a plant was deemed conducive to proper animal handling. The theory of planned behavior served as the conceptual foundation, wherein the components of attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control were explored through observation of pre-harvest handling and researcher administered questionnaires. Observation revealed that the elements of facility design, forceful unloading and cattle slips and falls were most likely to contribute to events associated with carcass bruising, and that outward pressures were also a factor in the behavioral component of handlers.
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