Future cattle production: Animal welfare as a critical component of sustainability and beef quality, a South American perspective.

The demand for animal protein is rising, increasing pressure on animal production systems and ecological resources. Ethical and environmental concerns are also growing worldwide, pushing for more sustainable food production systems. The international scientific community has raised concerns about misinformation regarding meat production processes and their harmful impact on the environment, animal welfare and human health consumption.

Meat insights: Uruguayan consumers´ mental associations and motives underlying consumption changes.

A telephone survey (n = 601) was conducted in Uruguay to explore participants' mental associations with meat and the underlying reasons changes in the quantity and type of meat consumed. Participants mentioned mostly positive associations with meat's culinary and cultural aspects and its nutritional value as source of high-quality protein. Other associations were related to meat production, specific types of meat and cuts, meat consumption and pleasure, while price was perceived negatively.

Effect of pre-slaughter fasting duration on physiology, carcass and meat quality in beef cattle finished on pastures or feedlot.

Pre-slaughter fasting duration affect blood parameters related to stress and metabolism, decrease live and carcass weights and impact beef quality of cattle. In three experiments, 1100 steers and heifers, finished on feedlot or on pasture, were evaluated to assess the influence of the site and duration of fasting before slaughter on physiological, carcass and meat quality traits. Cattle were allocated to one of two fasting duration - long (23-29 h) or short (2-6 h) - and to one of two sites of fasting- farm or abattoir.