1. The Effect of Animal Disposition on Carcass Traits
Eric Berg
Meat-Animal Scientist

2. Introduction Livestock Welfare and Temperament Genetic Potential
Physiological Function
Environmental Stimuli
Quantification of Temperament and Stress

3. Introduction Project Animals Materials and Methods
Results and Discussion
Summary
Implications

4. Welfare and Temperament
“Quality of Life”
Behavioral Needs
Health Needs
Stress
Alteration from Homeostasis
Response – “Fight or Flight”
Activation Mediation

5. Welfare and Temperament
Stress
Physiological
Psychological
Temperament Response
Excitable Animals
Hormone Profile

6. Genetic Potential Selection Criteria Phenotype Performance
Carcass Characteristics
Reproduction
Expected Progeny Differences
Marker Assisted Selection
1960 Model Hereford Steer
1969 Model Hereford Steer

7. Genetic Potential Marker Assisted Selection Bovine Genome Evaluation
Commercial DNA Test
Single Nucleotide Polymorphs (SNPs)

8. Physiological Function
Stress
Disruption of Homeostasis
Sympathetic Nervous System
Activation (Fight)
Mobilization (Flight)
Vigilance (Fright)
Arousal (Sex)

9. Physiological Function
Stress Response
Increased
Heart Rate
Blood Pressure
Respiration
Metabolism

10. Physiological Function
Stress Response
Inhibited
Energy Storage
Digestion
Growth
Immune Function
Reproduction

11. Quantifying Temperament
Temperament Evaluation
Exit Velocity
Chute Score
Pen Score

12. Quantifying Temperament
Exit Velocity
Separation of Animal from Human Contact
Infrared Sensors (1.82 m)

13. Quantifying Temperament
Chute Score
Subjective Evaluation
Five Point Scale (Grandin, 1993)
1) Calm, no movement
2) Slightly restless
3) Squirming, occasionally shaking chute
4) Continuous, very vigorous movement
5) Rearing, twisting of body, violently struggling

14. Quantifying Temperament
Pen Score
Subjective
Small Group/Small Pen
Five Point Scale (Hammond, 1996)
1) non-aggressive, walks slowly upon approach
2) slightly aggressive, pace fences
3) moderately aggressive, run along fences
4) aggressive, avoids humans, run into gates/fences
5) very aggressive, runs over anything in path

15. Project
EVALUATION OF THE PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSE OF FEEDLOT CATTLE TO WORKING CHUTE ENVIRONMENT RELATIVE TO TEMPERAMENT, GROWTH RATE, CARCASS COMPOSITION, BEEF QUALITY, AND TENDERNESS

16. Temperament Project Central Dakota Feeder Calf Club Steers (n = 183)
Blocked by Weight (275 kg)
Weighed Periodically (28 d)
Temperament Evaluation

17. Temperament Project Temperament Evaluation Exit Velocity Chute Score
Catch Score

18. Temperament Project Exit Velocity Infrared Sensors (FarmTek, Inc.)
Placed at 0.5 m and 2.32 m (1.82 m)
Measured at 7 weigh periods

19. Temperament Project Chute Score Subjective Visual Evaluation
Measured at 6 weigh periods
Five Point Scale (Grandin, 1993)
1) Calm, no movement
2) Slightly restless
3) Squirming, occasionally shaking chute
4) Continuous, very vigorous movement
5) Rearing, twisting of body, violently struggling

20. Temperament Project Catch Score Resistance to Head Restraint
Measured at 3 weigh periods
Five Point Scale (Grandin, 1993)
1) Calm, no movement
2) Slightly restless
3) Squirming, occasionally shaking chute
4) Continuous, very vigorous movement
5) Rearing, twisting of body, violently struggling

21. Temperament Project Commercial DNA Testing with IGENITY™
Ear Tissue and Hair Sample
IGENITY™ Profile including:
Docility
Tenderness
Ribeye Area
Fat Thickness
Percent Choice
Marbling

22. Materials and Methods Carcass Data Hot Carcass Weight 45 min pH
Ribeye Area
12th Rib Fat
Kidney, Pelvic Fat
Marbling
Yield Grade

23. Materials and Methods Carcass Data – Longissimus Sample 36 hr pH
Color Scores
L* (light / dark)
a* (red / green)
b* (yellow / blue)
Warner-Bratzler Shear Force

24. Materials and Methods Statistical Analysis Correlation Coefficients
Temperament
Carcass
Least Squares Means
Exit Velocity (Slow, Medium, Fast)
Docility Potential (Low, Moderate, High)
Carcass Composition
Carcass Quality
Tenderness

25. Results and Discussion
Exit Velocity Over Time of Study
a, b, c Means with different superscripts within rows were different (P < 0.05)

26. Adjustments to Working Chute

27. Results and Discussion
Subjective Chute Scores Over Time
a, b, c, dMeans with different superscripts within rows were different (P < 0.05)

28. Results and Discussion
Exit Velocity Correlation
Fat Parameters
Final Yield Grade
12th Rib Fat
Kidney, Pelvic
Marbling
Tenderness
Warner-Bratzler Shear Force

29. Results and Discussion
Exit Velocity with Carcass Parameters
Slower Exit Velocity = Fatter
Variable
FYG
HCW
Dress
12thFT
REA
KPH
Marb
First Exit
Velocity
(0.495)
0.068
(0.367)
-0.051
(0.504)
(0.528)
0.0731
(0.335)
0.0818
(0.279)
0.1282
(0.089)
Last Exit
0.1938
(0.011)
0.0711
(0.354)
(0.545)
0.1495
(0.051)
(0.299)
0.1919
(0.012)
0.1466
(0.054)
Average Exit
0.1231
(0.099)
0.0833
(0.265)
(0.658)
0.0608
(0.418)
(0.567)
0.1853
0.1107
(0.138)

30. Results and Discussion
Exit Velocity with Carcass Parameters
Faster 1st Exit Velocity = Tougher Meat
Variable
Marb
WBS
pH45
pH36 h L* a* b*
First Exit Velocity
0.1282
(0.089)
(0.008)
0.1379
(0.069)
(0.134)
0.0554
(0.465)
0.0276
(0.716)
0.0385
(0.612)
Last Exit Velocity
0.1466
(0.054)
(0.320)
(0.769)
(0.058)
0.1079
(0.159)
0.1347
(0.078)
0.1621
(0.034)
Average Exit Velocity
0.1107
(0.138)
(0.052)
0.0703
(0.350)
(0.022)
0.0806
(0.282)
0.1071
(0.152)
0.1315

31. Results and Discussion
Exit Velocity with Carcass Parameters b b a
a, b Means with different superscripts within rows were different (P < 0.05)

32. Results and Discussion
Catch Score Correlation
Quality Parameters
Marbling
Color Scores
L* (Lightness / Darkness)
a* (Red / Green)
b* (Yellow / Blue)
36 hour pH

33. Results and Discussion
Catch Score with Carcass Parameters
Higher Catch Score =
Less marbling
Higher pH
Darker meat
Variable
Marb
pH36 h L* a* b*
First Catch Score
(0.149)
0.3032
(< 0.001)
(0.009)
(0.043)
(0.025)
Last Catch Score
(0.075)
0.1916
(0.010)
(0.255)
(0.135)
(0.122)
Average Catch Score
0.2033
(0.007)
(0.073)
(0.056)
(0.050)

34. Results and Discussion
Catch Score with Carcass Parameters
a, b Means with different superscripts within rows were different (P < 0.05)
1Marbling Score numeric designation: 100 = traces; 200 = slight; 300 = small; 400 = modest; 500 = moderate.

35. Results and Discussion
IGENITY® Tenderness vs. Shear Force b a a
P <

36. Results and Discussion
IGENITY® Docility vs. Shear Force b b a
P = 0.012

37. Summary Temperament Slower Exit Velocity Higher Catch Score Fatter
More Tender
Higher Catch Score
Lower Marbling
Higher 36 hour pH
Darker Color

38. Implications Beef Temperament Possible Effects Measurement
Fat Deposition (Marbling $)
Tenderness
Lean Color (Dark Cutter?)
Measurement
Catch Score