Effects of yarding and transport on muscle glycogen
concentration in beef cattle
M.G. Lambert, T.W. Knight, G.P. Cosgrove, A.F. Death and C.B.
Anderson
AgResearch, Grasslands Research Centre, Private Bag 11008,
Palmerston North, New Zealand
Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production.
2000 60: 124-125
Low ultimate-pH of beef is desirable because it enhances shelf
life, colour and tenderness. Pre-slaughter stress is thought to deplete
muscle glycogen and in extreme cases lead to higher ultimate pH of beef.
Seventeen-month-old steers were allocated to three treatments (n=15):
Control (C, grazing on pasture), Yarded (Y, held for 24 hours in cattle
yards) and Yarded plus Transported (YT, as for Y but also trucked for 4
hours during the 24-hour yarding period). The Y and YT animals lost
weight (average 25.5 kg) during time off pasture. Plasma glucose and
lactate did not differ across treatments. Plasma cortisol and creatine
kinase concentrations were increased by YT and plasma non-esterified
fatty acids concentration by both Y and YT. Despite these indicators of
occurrence of mild stress, especially in YT, muscle (longissimus dorsi)
glycogen concentration was not influenced by treatments. Results suggest
that increased emphasis on improved animal handling during yarding and
trucking of cattle is unlikely to markedly lower the incidence of
high-pH beef.
Keywords: NZSAPAB;
beef; muscle; glycogen; fasting; transport.
Last Updated 12-07-2000
