ABSTRACT
Throughout rearing and during the preslaughter period, animals may be confronted with stress-inducing situations. Stress has often been described in terms of the state of the animal when it is incapable of adapting, behaviorally and physiologically, to environmental or physical challenges (Fraser et al. 1975; Broom 1987). While it is important to understand the impact of physical challenges on the physiological and behavioral adaptive capacity of the animal, it is also important to take into account the emotions that animals may experience (Dawkins 1980; Duncan 1996; Dantzer 2002; Désiré et al. 2002). Studies on the behavior, physiology, and anatomy of the brain have shown that animals are capable of experiencing negative and positive emotions (Paul et al. 2005; Boissy et al. 2007). Particularly, the limbic system, known for its involvement in emotions in humans, also exists in the brain of nonhuman mammals (LeDoux 2000). The limbic system is involved in many behavioral reactions to stressful situations in mammals (Damasio 1998; Panksepp 2005). Thus, while environmental and physical challenges put a strain on the animal to adapt to
7.1 Introduction .................................................................................................. 199 7.1.1 Animal Stress and Welfare ............................................................... 199 7.1.2 Stress at Slaughter .............................................................................200 7.1.3 Stress and Meat Quality ...................................................................200
