Short Communication: Field observation: Pen stocking capacities for overnight lairage of finished steers and heifers at a commercial slaughter facility

Kline, Helen C.; Edwards‐Callaway, Lily N.; Grandin, Temple

doi:10.15232/aas.2018-01799

Cited by 6 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Additionally, industry guidelines, such as those developed by NAMI, provide guidance on how much space cattle should be allotted in holding pens and indicate that space allocations could vary based on weather, animal size, and duration of lairage ( NAMI, 2021 ). In brief, NAMI recommendations indicate that a 545-kg animal should be allotted 1.87 m 2 in lairage, which increases with heavier body weights (up to 2.22 m 2 ; NAMI, 2021 ); the creation and implementation of a tiered, weight-based pen density system was added to the NAMI guidelines in a 2017 revision ( Kline et al., 2019 ). Cattle in the current study weighed 610 kg on average and were allotted an average of 3.67 m 2 of lairage pen space each, which is more space than the largest allotment recommended by NAMI.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Preslaughter factors affecting mobility, blood parameters, bruising, and muscle pH of finished beef cattle in the United States

Sullivan,

Davis,

Nair

et al. 2024

Translational Animal Science

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Decades of work have focused on reducing fear, stress, and discomfort in cattle during the pre-slaughter phase by improving and promoting animal handling, transportation, and management processes. Even still, there is limited information about the effects of pre-slaughter factors on animal welfare and meat quality outcomes in finished cattle in the United States. This study aimed to track individual animals through the slaughter process to identify pre-slaughter factors associated with key welfare and quality outcomes. A total of 454 cattle from one commercial slaughter facility were studied. Pre-slaughter factors assessed included distance traveled, truck waiting time, lairage density, lairage duration, and season. Animal characteristics, i.e., body weight, breed, and sex, were also recorded. One trained observer scored the mobility of all cattle using the North American Meat Institute’s 1-4 scale (i.e., normal to extremely reluctant to move). Exsanguination blood was collected and analyzed for cortisol, creatine kinase, and lactate. Carcass bruising was scored using a modified version of the National Beef Quality Audit’s bruise scoring methodology (i.e., no bruise, one bruise ≤ the size of a deck of cards, one bruise > than the size of a deck of cards, and multiple bruises). Ultimate muscle pH was measured 32 to 36 hours postmortem. Multi-predictor models were selected for each outcome variable using Akaike Information Criterion. Continuous outcome variables were analyzed using linear mixed-effects models and categorical outcome variables with mixed-effects logistic regression models. Longer truck waiting times were associated with increased cortisol (P = 0.04) and lactate (P = 0.02) concentrations. Similarly, increased lairage duration was associated with increased creatine kinase (P = 0.05) and the odds of cattle being bruised (P = 0.03). Less space allowance per animal in lairage was associated with increased odds of cattle having impaired mobility (P = 0.01). There was a seasonal effect for many of the measured outcomes; the summer season was associated with greater lactate concentrations (P < 0.0001), increased odds of impaired mobility (P < 0.0001), and increased odds of carcass bruising (P = 0.003). The findings of this study indicate that many of the pre-slaughter factors assessed influence critical welfare and meat quality outcomes of finished beef cattle, warranting future research and consideration.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Preslaughter factors affecting mobility, blood parameters, bruising, and muscle pH of finished beef cattle in the United States

Sullivan,

Davis,

Nair

et al. 2024

Translational Animal Science

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show abstract

“…Two examples of clear guidelines, are either a numerical space requirement for a housing, or a statement that all the animals must have sufficient space to all be able to lie down at the same time without resting on top of another animal. Photographs that show a correctly stocked pen and an overstocked pen are another easy method to provide guidance [ 12 ]. Another example of vague unclear guidance is the term “unnecessary suffering”.…”

Section: Commercial Supply Chain Managers Need Simple Easy-to-use Gui...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Practical Application of the Five Domains Animal Welfare Framework for Supply Food Animal Chain Managers

Grandin

2022

Animals

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The author has worked as a consultant with global commercial supply managers for over 20 years. The focus of this commentary will be practical application of The Five Domains Model in commercial systems. Commercial buyers of meat need simple easy-to-use guidelines. They have to use auditors that can be trained in a workshop that lasts for only a few days. Auditing of slaughter plants by major buyers has resulted in great improvements. Supply chain managers need clear guidance on conditions that would result in a failed audit. Animal based outcome measures that can be easily assessed should be emphasized in commercial systems. Some examples of these key animal welfare indicators are: percentage of animals stunned effectively with a single application of the stunner, percentage of lame animals, foot pad lesions on poultry, and body condition scoring. A farm that supplies a buyer must also comply with housing specifications. The farm either has the specified housing or does not have it. It will be removed from the approved supplier list if housing does not comply. These types of easy to assess indicators can be easily evaluated within the four domains of nutrition, environment, health and behavioral interactions. The Five Domains Framework can also be used in a program for continuous improvement of animal welfare.

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The Welfare of Cattle at Slaughter

Grandin

2023

Animal Welfare

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Short Communication: Field observation: Pen stocking capacities for overnight lairage of finished steers and heifers at a commercial slaughter facility

Cited by 6 publications

References 3 publications

Preslaughter factors affecting mobility, blood parameters, bruising, and muscle pH of finished beef cattle in the United States

Preslaughter factors affecting mobility, blood parameters, bruising, and muscle pH of finished beef cattle in the United States

Practical Application of the Five Domains Animal Welfare Framework for Supply Food Animal Chain Managers

The Welfare of Cattle at Slaughter

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