Using infrared thermography on farm of origin to predict meat quality and physiological response in cattle (Bos Taurus) exposed to transport and marketing

Holly Cuthbertson; Garth Tarr; Kate Loudon; Sabrina Lomax; Peter White; Paul McGreevy; Rodney Polkinghorne; Luciano A González

doi:10.1016/j.meatsci.2020.108173

Using infrared thermography on farm of origin to predict meat quality and physiological response in cattle (Bos Taurus) exposed to transport and marketing

Meat Sci. 2020 Nov:169:108173. doi: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2020.108173. Epub 2020 Apr 29.

Authors

Holly Cuthbertson¹, Garth Tarr², Kate Loudon³, Sabrina Lomax⁴, Peter White⁵, Paul McGreevy⁵, Rodney Polkinghorne⁶, Luciano A González⁴

Affiliations

¹ The University of Sydney, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, Camden, NSW 2570, Australia. Electronic address: holly.cuthbertson@sydney.edu.au.
² The University of Sydney, School of Mathematics and Statistics, Faculty of Science, Darlington, NSW 2006, Australia.
³ Murdoch University, School of Veterinary & Life Sciences, WA 6150. Australia.
⁴ The University of Sydney, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture and Environment, Camden, NSW 2570, Australia.
⁵ The University of Sydney, School of Veterinary Science, Faculty of Science, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia.
⁶ Birkenwood Pty Ltd, 431 Timor Rd, Murrurundi, NSW 2338, Australia.

PMID: 32590276
DOI: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2020.108173

Abstract

Temperature is used as an indicator of animals' response to external stimuli and thus it could potentially be used as an indicator or poor animal welfare and meat quality. Remote monitoring of temperature can be achieved using infrared thermography (IRT) at the farm of origin before animals are sent to slaughter. Relationships between temperatures of cattle measured using IRT on-farm and potential indicators of stress and meat quality were investigated in 481 cattle in 2 experiments, one with sea transport and another with land transport. On-farm measurements included IRT and behavioural assessment of temperament along with measurement of physiological indicators of stress and carcass traits post-mortem. Significant correlations were found between IRT and meat pH, meat colour, creatine kinase, glucose, non-esterified fatty acids, magnesium, and temperament (P < .05). That said, these correlations did not persist across both experiments. Current findings suggest that on-farm IRT could have the potential to assist with the detection of compromised animal welfare and predict meat quality.

Keywords: Animal welfare; Beef; Carcass characteristics; Infrared thermography; Physiological indicators of stress.

MeSH terms

Animal Husbandry / methods
Animal Welfare
Animals
Cattle / physiology*
Female
Male
Red Meat / analysis*
Stress, Physiological
Temperament / physiology
Thermography / methods
Thermography / veterinary*
Transportation*