Technological improvement of the quality of beef from the aspect of transport of young cattle to slaughtering

Results of author's own research as well as results obtained by other researchers are presented in this paper and relate to the effect of duration of transport on demonstration of stress syndrome in young cattle and on quality of meat. Stress syndrome in young cattle is caused by the stressor affecting the organism and bringing it into the state of stress. As consequence of the stress, prior to slaughtering, is occurrence of DFD syndrome. Such meat is characterized by special traits (Dark, Firm, Dry) which is the reason why it is called DFD meat. Until recently, research in the field of production of young cattle for slaughtering focused only on nutrition, reproduction and pathology issues, and reactions of animals to changes in their environment weren't much studied. Therefore, EU has passed set of directives and regulations referring to animal transport conditions. Significance of the application of mentioned directives and regulations is in providing minimum demands relating to welfare of animals and in the same way reduce to minimum stress factors which are especially harmful in beef production. Results of our investigation of pH24 M. longissimus dorsi in young bulls which were transported 150 km show that approximately one quarter (28%) of investigated muscles had pH24 6,0 or above this value. Contrary to this, values of pH24 M. longissimus dorsi in young bulls transported only 15 km were within allowed limits, meat had no DFD traits.