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 preslaughter handling methods on carcass hygiene. There are many ways in which animals suffer during the preslaughter period. They include metabolic exhaustion, dehydration, death during transport, emotional and temperature stress, bruising, torn skin, and, sickness and disease. Recent research findings on the effects of preslaughter stress on muscle glycogen metabolism and dark firm dry meat are reviewed.