Avoidance-related behaviour, bleeding times and the quality of meat from sheep slaughtered at a commercial and a municipal abattoir

Njisane, Yonela Zifikile

Title: Avoidance-related behaviour, bleeding times and the quality of meat from sheep slaughtered at a commercial and a municipal abattoir
Creator: Njisane, Yonela Zifikile
Subject: Mutton -- Quality
Subject: Sheep -- Quality
Subject: Slaughtering and slaughter-houses -- South Africa
Subject: Animal behavior
Subject: Dorper sheep
Subject: Meat -- Quality
Subject: Sheep -- Carcasses -- Handling
Date: 2012
Type: Thesis
Type: Masters
Type: MSc Agric (Animal Science)
Identifier: vital:11818
Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/d1004195
Identifier: Mutton -- Quality
Identifier: Sheep -- Quality
Identifier: Slaughtering and slaughter-houses -- South Africa
Identifier: Animal behavior
Identifier: Dorper sheep
Identifier: Meat -- Quality
Identifier: Sheep -- Carcasses -- Handling
Description: The objective of the study was to determine the avoidance-related behaviour, bleeding times and the quality of meat from sheep of different gender, breed (Dorper, Merino, and their crosses) and age groups, slaughtered at a commercial and municipal abattoir. Castrates and ewes of different age groups (1= <10months, 2= 11-12months, and 3= >12months) and breeds were used. From the commercial abattoir, 90 castrates and 110 ewes were used, while 66 castrates and 19 ewes were obtained from the municipal abattoir. Meat samples were obtained to determine meat colour, ultimate pH, temperature, cooking loss and tenderness. Correlations between bleeding times and meat quality variables were also determined. The two abattoirs differed in terms of technology and the procedures used, and this brought about different response behaviours in sheep at slaughter, bleeding times at exsanguination and the quality of meat produced. Animal-related factors (breed, gender and age classes) had no effect on the avoidance-related behaviour of sheep slaughtered at the commercial abattoir, while these factors affected those sheep slaughtered at the municipal abattoir. These factors also had an effect on the quality of meat produced at both abattoirs. Gender and weight of the animals had effects on the bleeding times at exsanguination at both abattoirs. Bleeding times did no correlate with any of the meat quality variables, but correlations among meat quality variables were observed. Avoidance-related behaviour, bleeding times, and the quality of mutton from sheep slaughtered at a commercial and a municipal abattoir was affected by breed, age, and gender.
Format: 100 leaves; 30 cm
Format: pdf
Publisher: University of Fort Hare
Publisher: Faculty of Science & Agriculture
Language: English
Rights: University of Fort Hare

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