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Administration of dexamethasone peros in finishing bulls. I. Effects on productive traits, meat quality and cattle behaviour as indicator of welfare

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 July 2008

F. Gottardo ,
M. Brscic ,
G. Pozza ,
C. Ossensi ,
B. Contiero ,
A. Marin  and
G. Cozzi
F. Gottardo*
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
M. Brscic
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
G. Pozza
Affiliation:
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Legnaro (PD), Italy
C. Ossensi
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
B. Contiero
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
A. Marin
Affiliation:
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale delle Venezie, Legnaro (PD), Italy
G. Cozzi
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Science, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
*
E-mail: flaviana.gottardo@unipd.it
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Abstract

The study investigated the effects of prolonged oral administration of dexamethasone at a low daily dosage of 0.75 mg/head per day (Dexa) on beef cattle productive traits, behaviour and meat quality. In all, 14 finishing Marchigiana bulls were used in a trial that begun 56 days prior to slaughter, of which six bulls received treatment from day 5 to day 53, whereas the remaining animals were used for Control. The animals treated showed an increased average daily gain (1515 v. 1177 g/head per day; P < 0.05; s.e.d. = 48.54) and improved warm carcass dressing percentage (60.8% v. 59.7%; P < 0.05; s.e.d. = 0.32). Behavioural observation did not permit a clear distinction between treated and Control animals since feeding and social behaviour were similar in both groups. The bulls treated spent less time lying (16.5% v. 34.6%; P < 0.05; s.e.d. = 4.38) and grooming (6.7% v. 11.9%; P < 0.05; s.e.d. = 1.23), and this may indicate poorer welfare. No evidence of treatment was observed in other carcass traits, and redness was the only meat quality parameter slightly affected by corticosteroid administration.

Keywords

beef cattlebehaviourdexamethasonegrowth performancemeat quality
Type
Full Paper
Information
animal , Volume 2 , Issue 7 , July 2008 , pp. 1073 - 1079
Copyright
Copyright © The Animal Consortium 2008

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