Associations between Pre-Slaughter and Post-Slaughter Indicators of Animal Welfare in Cull Cows

摘要

Simple SummaryOld, sick, and low-production cows are called cull cows, and they are sent from the farms to slaughter to produce meat. Cull cows may be more vulnerable than other categories of cattle regarding alterations of their welfare, but most studies linking animal welfare to meat quality have been carried out in steers and heifers of higher commercial value. In this study, we registered health of cull cows at arrival at a slaughterhouse and handling of the cows during the stunning process and associated those variables with carcass bruising and condemnations; the latter are a reflection of the treatment received by the animals before death and therefore can be used as indicators of animal welfare. We found a high percentage of cull cows arriving with low body condition (skinny), as well as presenting lameness and mastitis. During the stunning process 16% of cows did not fall unconscious after the first shot with the penetrating captive bolt gun. Skinny cows and those with mastitis were more likely to be condemned; skinny cows also presented more severe bruises. We conclude that for cull cows the main animal welfare issue originates at farm level, and cows should be culled sooner.