From April to August 2008, twelve Podolian subjects, aged about 11 months at the beginning of the experimental period, were used to evaluate the effect of rearing system (Confined vs. Free-range) and season (spring vs. summer) on their behaviour and meat quality. Nine sessions of behavioural observations were performed. During a 6-h period, the behaviour of a focal animal, chosen at random, was continuously monitored. All the animals were slaughtered at 18 months of age. Walking (P<0.001) and standing (P<0.05) were lower in summer, whereas inactivity was higher (P<0.05). Free-range bulls spent more time walking (P<0.05), feeding (P<0.001) and standing (P<0.01) and showed a lower number of agonistic (P<0.05) and non-agonistic social interaction than confined animals (P<0.01). Self- and allo-grooming were not affected by rearing system, whereas season influenced self-grooming with higher values in spring (P<0.05). Confined animals showed higher final weights (P<0.05) and a lighter meat (P<0.05), whereas no differences between groups were observed for average daily gains, carcass yield, water holding capacity and meat colour. Confinement markedly affected the behaviour of the animals, whereas free-ranging had only minor effects on meat quality.
Behaviour and meat quality of Podolian young bulls / Braghieri, A.; DE ROSA, Giuseppe; Spadetta, M.; Girolami, A.; Napolitano, F.. - STAMPA. - Ital. J. Anim. Sci., 8(Suppl.2):(2009), pp. 598-600. (Intervento presentato al convegno 18th A.S.P.A. Congress tenutosi a Palermo, Italy nel 9-12 June 2009).
Behaviour and meat quality of Podolian young bulls.
DE ROSA, GIUSEPPE;
2009
Abstract
From April to August 2008, twelve Podolian subjects, aged about 11 months at the beginning of the experimental period, were used to evaluate the effect of rearing system (Confined vs. Free-range) and season (spring vs. summer) on their behaviour and meat quality. Nine sessions of behavioural observations were performed. During a 6-h period, the behaviour of a focal animal, chosen at random, was continuously monitored. All the animals were slaughtered at 18 months of age. Walking (P<0.001) and standing (P<0.05) were lower in summer, whereas inactivity was higher (P<0.05). Free-range bulls spent more time walking (P<0.05), feeding (P<0.001) and standing (P<0.01) and showed a lower number of agonistic (P<0.05) and non-agonistic social interaction than confined animals (P<0.01). Self- and allo-grooming were not affected by rearing system, whereas season influenced self-grooming with higher values in spring (P<0.05). Confined animals showed higher final weights (P<0.05) and a lighter meat (P<0.05), whereas no differences between groups were observed for average daily gains, carcass yield, water holding capacity and meat colour. Confinement markedly affected the behaviour of the animals, whereas free-ranging had only minor effects on meat quality.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
