Home News Animal emotions, does it influence the quality of your meat?

Animal emotions, does it influence the quality of your meat?

Until relatively recently, there was a popular belief that animals have no feelings; that they fulfilled the function, either pet or food and that's it. However, recent studies have determined that, indeed, animal emotions are real. And not only that, but they significantly influence the quality of their meats. This, of course, opens the debate with those who are increasingly aware of animal welfare. Those who have decided not to eat meat and worrying about whether they are happy or not, at least during the rearing stage - to later become meat products. 

How do animal emotions affect?

The truth is that they affect meats more than we would have thought at first or than was thought before this news broke. From the Wageningen University -in the Netherlands-, they ensure the close relationship between animal happiness and the quality of their meat. In fact, to carry out the study that has determined these conclusions, a technology that detects facial expressions and the emotions of animals. As we will see later, it is a most useful method to understand the feelings of cattle. In other words, a way that their well-being can thus be guaranteed.

"Experts provide examples of behaviors collected through this technology, if a pig shows the whites of its eyes it can indicate aggression, or if it sticks its ears to its head, it indicates that they suffer from aversion or have negative emotions ”, explain the researchers participating in the study. But what does it have to do with the animal being more or less happy so that the meat is of more or less quality?

The specialists of the Dutch university explain that an animal that is happy will always be more productive -and the products will be of a higher level-, as there are biomarkers such as oxytocin or dopamine, that increase or decrease their amount, depending on the cortisol -hormone that is released due to stress-.

animal emotions
Animal emotions influence meat quality, two cows grazing

Consumers care about animal welfare

According to some surveys carried out on the European scene - specifically, by the Eurobarometer -, such as that of 2016, they show that, indeed, "the European consumers want more to be done for animal welfare ”, stresses the Gastronomy & Cía digital portal. In fact, as a result of the conclusions drawn from these surveys, Eurogroup for Animals - an organization representing the interests of animals - and the European Parliament's intergroup on the welfare and conservation of animals are calling for an improvement in the quality of life of these in the farms.

And we do not say it, the data of the Eurobarometer. Andl 94% of those surveyed see animal welfare as a vital factor. On the other hand, 82% determine that a greater protection. And finally, 59% affirm that, if they had a certificate that accredits animal welfare, they would be willing to pay more for the products.

Facial expression recognition as a method of the future

We have already seen that European support for well-being and recognition of animal emotions it is latent. In reality, it is getting stronger. That is why methods are being studied to be able to guarantee that happiness and tranquility. The researchers explained that human presence is a stressful experience for animals. Therefore, the aforementioned recognition technology could be the ideal technique to, from now on, control their behavior.

what is the WelfairTM pig seal
A pig and her young in a sty

It is a program that allows you to review the videos recorded in the highest quality and, most importantly, without influencing by no means in the animal emotions. In this way, it would be taking a step forward in terms of awareness and recognition of animals as living beings. With right to live in the calmest way possible -especially considering that they are being raised to later produce food products-. From what it seems, users, even with the consequent increase in price, find it the ideal step to guarantee their quality of life.

Share