Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-mkpzs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T15:19:38.641Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Handling, Bruising and Dehydration of Cattle at the Time of Slaughter

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  11 January 2023

A M Jarvis ,
C D A Messer  and
M S Cockram
A M Jarvis
Affiliation:
Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, The University of Edinburgh, Veterinary Field Station, Easter Bush, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK
C D A Messer
Affiliation:
Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, The University of Edinburgh, Veterinary Field Station, Easter Bush, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK
M S Cockram*
Affiliation:
Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, The University of Edinburgh, Veterinary Field Station, Easter Bush, Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK
*
† Contact for correspondence and requests for reprints
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

The handling of cattle during unloading (n = 39) and movement to slaughter (n = 163) was observed at a commercial slaughterhouse. Most potentially traumatic events and handling events occurred while the cattle were in the race. During the initial 3 hours in the lairage pen, cattle from markets (n = 28) spent significantly more time drinking than those sent to slaughter direct from farms (n = 11; P < 0.05). Most cattle had bruises (99%; η = 181), but there was no difference between the occurrence of bruising in cattle direct from farms and those from markets. Bruise score was not affected by the distance transported from farms 18-201km (11-125 miles). However, cattle from markets > 64km (>40 miles) from the slaughterhouse had greater bruise scores than those from nearer markets 0.8-64km (0.5-40 miles) (P <0.01). No correlations were found between potentially traumatic events at the slaughterhouse and the occurrence of bruising. Plasma total protein concentration and plasma creatine kinase activity in blood collected at exsanguination (n = 170) was significantly greater in cattle from markets than in those from farms (P < 0.05), but there was no difference in plasma osmolality and packed cell volume (PCV). Cattle from distant markets > 129km (>80 miles) had higher PCV and plasma total protein concentration than those from markets within 129km (80 miles) (P <0.05). The overall results suggest that cattle from markets, particularly those transported for a distance greater than 64km (40 miles), would benefit from greater access to water at the market and from improved methods of handling and transport prior to arrival at the slaughterhouse.

Keywords

animal welfarebruisingcattledehydrationhandlingslaughterhouse
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 5 , Issue 3 , August 1996 , pp. 259 - 270
Copyright
© 1996 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

References

Anderson, B and Horder, J C 1979 The Australian carcass bruise scoring system. Queensland Agricultural Journal 105: 281–287Google Scholar
Blackshaw, J K, Blackshaw, A W and Kusano, T 1987 Cattle behaviour in a saleyard and its potential to cause bruising. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 27: 753–757CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Blair-West, J R, Denton, D A, McKinley, M J and Weisinger, R S 1989 Sodium appetite and thirst in cattle subjected to dehydration. American Journal of Physiology 257: R1212–1218Google ScholarPubMed
Cockram, M S and Corley, K T T 1991 Effect of pre-slaughter handling on the behaviour and blood composition of beef-cattle. British Veterinary Journal 147: 444–454CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Cole, N A and Hutcheson, D P 1981 Influence on beef steers of two sequential short periods of feed and water-deprivation. Journal of Animal Science 53: 907–915CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Eldridge, G A, Barnett, J L, McCausland, I P, Millar, H W C and Vowles, W J 1984 Bruising and method of marketing cattle. Animal Production in Australia 15: 675Google Scholar
Eldridge, G A and Winfield, C G 1988 The behaviour and bruising of cattle during transport at different space allowances. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 28: 695–698CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gracey, J F and Collins, D S 1992 Meat Hygiene. Bailliére Tindall: London, UKGoogle Scholar
Grandin, T 1980 Bruises and carcass damage. International Journal for the Study of Animal Problems 1: 121–137Google Scholar
Grandin, T 1993 Handling facilities and restraint of range cattle. In: T Grandin (ed) Livestock Handling and Transport pp 75–94. CAB International: Wallingford, UKGoogle Scholar
Grosskopf, J F W, Meitzer, D G A, Vandenheever, L W, Collett, F A, Vanrensburg, J J, Mulders, M S and Lombard, M S 1988 Blood biochemical parameters and meat pH of feedlot cattle slaughtered on arrival or after overnight rest at an abattoir. Journal of the South African Veterinary Association - Tydskrif Van Die Suid-Afrikaanse Veterinere Vereniging 59: 149–152Google ScholarPubMed
Horder, J C, Strachan, R T, Ramsay, W R and Burns, M A 1982 Bruising comparison of three methods of selling cattle. Animal Production in Australia 14: 593Google Scholar
Jarvis, A M, Selkirk, L and Cockram, M S 1995 The influence of source, sex class and pre-slaughter handling on the bruising of cattle at two slaughterhouses. Livestock Production Science 43: 215–224CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Meat and Livestock Commission 1994 Beef Yearbook p 135. MLC: Milton Keynes, UKGoogle Scholar
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 1990 The Welfare of Animals at Markets Order. Statutory Instruments No. 2628. HMSO: London, UKGoogle Scholar
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 1995 Welfare of Animals (Slaughter or Killing) Regulations. Statutory Instruments No. 731. HMSO: London, UKGoogle Scholar
Mitchell, G, Hattingh, J and Ganhao, M 1988 Stress in cattle assessed after handling, after transport and after slaughter. Veterinary Record 123: 201–205CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Orihuela, J A and Solano, J J 1994 Relationship between order of entry in slaughterhouse raceway and time to traverse raceway. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 40: 313–317CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tarrant, P V 1990 Transportation of cattle by road. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 28: 153–170CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tarrant, P V, Kenny, F J, Harrington, D and Murphy, M 1992 Long-distance transportation of steers to slaughter - effect of stocking density on physiology, behaviour and carcass quality. Livestock Production Science 30: 223–238Google Scholar
Warriss, P D, Brown, S N, Knowles, T G, Kestin, S C, Edwards, J E, Dolan, S K and Phillips, A J 1995 Effects on cattle of transport by road for up to 15 hours. Veterinary Record 136: 319–323CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wythes, J R, Brown, M J, Shorthose, W R and Clarke, M R 1983 Effect of method of sale and various water regimens at saleyards on the liveweight, carcass traits and muscle properties of cattle. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 23: 235–242Google Scholar
Wythes, J R, Johnston, G N, Beaman, N and O’Rourke, P K 1985 Pre-slaughter handling of cattle: the availability of water during the lairage period. Australian Veterinary Journal 62: 163–165CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Yeh, E, Anderson, B, Jones, P M and Shaw, F D 1978 Bruising in cattle transported over long distances. Veterinary Record 103: 117–119CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed