Inferior meat quality from intensive animal farming units

Animals for meat production are required to produce less fat and more lean meat to meet consumers' wishes and should be produced at the lowest cost which requires a fast rate of growth. This has been achieved by selective breeding, intensive feeding systems and supplementing diets with growth promotion agents. Such animals, particularly pigs, tend to be more susceptible to stress, producing poor quality meat after slaughter. Stress increases with overcrowding and inadequate space.