MANEJO PRÉ-ABATE EM BOVINOS DE CORTE: implicações para o bem-estar animal e qualidade da carne

Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate pre-slaughter management practices in beef cattle and to analyze their effects on animal welfare and meat quality. An integrative literature review with a qualitative and analytical approach was conducted, based on a systematic search in major scientific databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, SciELO, and CAB Abstracts, considering studies published between 2015 and 2025. A total of 38 articles met the eligibility criteria and were included in the final analysis. The findings demonstrate that pre-slaughter handling plays a critical role in modulating physiological stress responses, primarily through activation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis and subsequent depletion of muscle glycogen reserves. Key stressors such as transportation, stocking density, handling during loading and unloading, fasting duration, and lairage conditions were identified as major determinants of stress intensity. These factors directly affect postmortem muscle metabolism, influencing pH decline and leading to meat quality defects such as DFD (dark, firm, dry) and PSE (pale, soft, exudative), as well as carcass bruising and economic losses. Overall, the results highlight that improving pre-slaughter management practices is essential not only for enhancing animal welfare but also for ensuring meat quality and optimizing production efficiency within the beef supply chain.