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Published on: May 18, 2015
Beta-endorphin and cortisol concentrations in plasma of blood samples collected during exsanguination of cattle
1CSIRO Division of Food Processing, Meat Research Laboratory, PO Box 12, Cannon Hill, Queensland 4170, Australia.
Abstract:
Blood samples were collected during exsanguination from a group of 36 cattle slaughtered at a research abattoir and from a group of 36 cattle slaughtered at a commercial abattoir. Beta-endorphin and cortisol values were measured in plasma from all blood samples. The mean beta-endorphin values for the two groups of animals (19·2 and 20·9 pmol/litre) did not differ significantly. The mean cortisol values for the two groups of cattle did differ significantly (P < 0·001), with the commercial abattoir group having the greater mean value (123 nmol/litre versus 41 nmol/litre). Although the commercial abattoir group had an elevated mean cortisol value there were no dark cutting carcasses in the group.
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