Public sensitivity towards animal welfare has risen in recent years. Uruguay is a primary meat exporter. Therefore,
it is compulsory not only to provide good quality and safe meat, but also to project a welfare friendly
image. Uruguayan meat production systems are mainly based on rangeland pastures but, due to international
meat prices and the opening of new markets, intensive fattening systems increased. These systems include a
wide range of feeding alternatives between pasture and concentrate utilization, involving differences in terms
of animalwelfare, carcass and meat quality, that require to be studied. Accordingly, some husbandry practices associated
mainly with extensive systems must be evaluated, as well as their applicability to international recommendations
related to pre-slaughter handlingwhichmay not be suitable for local conditions. In the present paper
we share scientific results related to the impact of different production systems, husbandry practices and preslaughter
procedures associated to animal welfare and meat quality in Uruguayan conditions.