Road transport conditions of slaughter cattle: Effects on the prevalence of dark, firm and dry beef

Abstract

. 2010. Road transport conditions of slaughter cattle: effects on the prevalence of dark, firm and dry beef. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 90: 471Á482. This is a benchmark study to investigate slaughter cattle transportation conditions in Canada. Data collected included: season; temperature variation; truck ventilation; transport conditions; length of time in transit; trucker training and experience hauling cattle; number of lots and whether lots were separated; sex and whether sexes were separated on mixed loads; cattle unloading gait score; cattle handling score; cattle weight and number of dark cutters. Information was collected on approximately 50 000 animals transported by 1363 trucks. The prevalence of dark cutters (mean 02% per truckload) was highest in mixed loads, followed by heifers and steers. Mixed loads that were not separated (steers and heifers in the same compartment) had a greater prevalence of dark cutters than mixed loads that were separated. The GLIMMIX procedure in SAS 9.1 was used for the analysis of the risk factors associated with dark cutters. Province of origin, cattle unloading speed, driver training, truck ventilation, trucking experience, sex, origin (sale barn or feedlot) and whether or not cattle were held in lairage overnight were all significant predictors for dark cutting beef.Key words: Cattle, transport, dark cutter, dark, firm, dry, beef Warren, L. A., Mandell, I. B. et Bateman, K. G. 2010. Transport du be´tail d'abattage par la route: incidence sur la pre´valence de la viande a`coupe somber. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 90: 471Á482. Cette e´tude se veut une e´tude de re´fe´rence sur les conditions dans lesquelles les bovins d'abattage sont transporte´s au Canada. Les donne´es recueillies comprenaient les suivantes: la saison, l'e´cart de tempe´rature, l'ae´ration dans le camion, les conditions de transport, la dure´e du transit, la formation et l'expe´rience du camionneur en transport du be´tail, le nombre de lots et se´paration ou pas de ces derniers, le sexe des animaux et la se´paration ou pas des deux sexes dans les chargements mixtes, la de´marche des animaux lors du de´chargement, la cote pour la manutention du be´tail, le poids des animaux et le nombre d'animaux a`viande de coupe sombre. L'information a e´te´recueillie sur environ 50 000 beˆtes transporte´es dans 1 363 camions. La pre´valence d'animaux a`viande de coupe sombre (moyenne 02% par camion) atteint un maximum dans les chargements mixtes, puis chez les ge´nisses et enfin, les bouvillons. Les lots mixtes non se´pare´s (bouvillons et ge´nisses dans le meˆme compartiment) donnent un plus grand nombre d'animaux a`viande de coupe sombre. Les auteurs ont recouru a`la me´thode GLIMMIX de SAS 9.1 pour analyser les facteurs de risque associe´s aux animaux a`viande de coupe sombre. La province d'origine, la rapidite´du de´chargement, la formation du chauffeur, l'ae´ration dans le camion, l'expe´rience du camionneur, le sexe, la provenance (encan ou parc d'engraissement) et le fait que les animaux soient ou pas garde´s toute la nuit dans d...

Road transport of cattle, swine and poultry in North America and its impact on animal welfare, carcass and meat quality: A review

“…For example, cattle in the nose, back and doghouse were reported to have 44.0, 3.9 and 60.4% more space while cattle in the belly and deck had 7.5 and 5.5% less space than recommended by CARC (2001) andUSDA (1997). A similar finding was reported in a like transport survey conducted by Warren, Mandell, and Bateman (2010) of 1363 loads of beef cattle destined for a southern Ontario processing plant where loading densities were documented to be at or above the recommended space allowance 49% of the time. These studies raise the question "Is there scientific evidence to support that the loading densities used by the NA beef cattle industry are detrimental to welfare or meat quality?…”

“…Lack of slats in that study was attributed to an industry belief that slats cause increased morbidity (due to increased humidity in the trailer) in calves and feeders, although this has not been substantiated by research. In contrast, Warren et al (2010) reported much more frequent use of slats under southern Ontario conditions documenting that 79% of surveyed cattle liners had some winter boarding followed by 37, 34, and 21% for fall, spring and summer respectively. In addition, they found that boarding reduced the incidence of dark cutters during winter transport.…”

“…For example, in a study assessing 50 truckloads of cattle entering an Alberta feedlot, Ribble, Meek, Shewen, Jim, and Guichon (1995) reported that distance transported was not a significant factor in whether cattle became sick with fatal fibrinous pneumonia (shipping fever). Warren et al (2010) also reported no relationships between transportation distance (most within 8 h of the plant) and mortalities on arrival at the slaughter plant.…”

“…Warren et al (2010) reported an average transit duration of 4.6 h with minimum and maximum durations of 0.3 and 68.3 h, respectively. Approximately 86% of all the loads were in transit ≤8 h while approximately 9% were in transit between 8 and 16 h. González, Schwartzkopf-Genswein, Bryan, Silasi, and Brown (in press-a) reported that mean distance traveled for loads considered by the industry to be long-haul (>400 km) was 1081 ± 343 km (maximum of 2560 km), whereas time animals spent on truck averaged 15.9 h with a maximum of 45 h. The above studies illustrate that few loads exceeded NA maximum durations.…”

“…In one of the few NA studies assessing handling quality, Warren et al (2010) reported that only 2.2% of the drivers unloading cattle at an Ontario slaughterhouse received an unacceptable handling score. This score was assigned to livestock transporters that used excessive prodding and/or yelling or caused cattle to fall off the ramps within the trailer.…”