Effect of social dominance on the meat quality of young Friesian bulls

Abstract

This study examined whether social status of the animals influenced the productive, morphological, physiological, and meat quality parameters in young Friesian bulls. The social dominance index (SDI) was estimated by direct observation of the dominance relationships among animals living in a feedlot. Thirty young bulls were divided into three groups based on their social status as assessed by SDI. The social status of the animals had a small effect on daily growth rate, but did not affect carcass or meat quality parameters. Physiological measures of stress were also unaffected by the animals' social status.