An Intercontinental survey of commercial abattoirs

Preliminary data on the prevalence of advanced preslaughter health and welfare conditions in mature cows

Authors

  • Kurt D. Vogel Department of Animal and Food Science, University of Wisconsin- River Falls, River Falls, WI 54022
  • Tiffany L. Lee Department of Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506
  • Bruce Feinberg Global Supply Chain and Sustainability, McDonald's Corporation, Oak Brook, IL 60523
  • Guy H. Loneragan Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 79409
  • Jennifer Walker Director Milk Quality, Danone North America, Dallas, TX 75204
  • Lily N. Edwards-Callaway Department of Animal Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523
  • Michael G. Siemens Senior Vice President Global Agribusiness Solutions, Arrowsight Inc., Katonah, NY 10536
  • Daniel U. Thomson Department of Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21423/bovine-vol52no2p109-119

Keywords:

bovine, cow, cull, market, slaughter, welfare

Abstract

A survey was conducted to describe the distribution of 10 advanced health and welfare conditions in cows destined for slaughter within a large, multinational beef supply chain. The survey included 4,211 groups of cows (N = 76,886) from 13 countries in 3 areas of the world [Europe, Brazil, and the United States). Thirty-four commercial abattoirs participated in Europe, 9 in the United States, and 7 in Brazil. The survey was conducted in July, August, and September 2014. The conditions were non-ambulatory (NA), severe lameness [SL), ocular neoplasia (ON), wounds (W), malaise (M), nervous system disorders (NSD), poor udder condition (PUC), active parturition (AP), uterine prolapse (UP), and low body condition score (LBCS). Of all animals evaluated, 2.98% displayed at least 1 condition. The 3 most common conditions were LBCS (45.6% of conditions observed), PUC (20.3% of conditions observed), and SL (16.3% of conditions observed). The combination of "Dairy" and "Mixed Beef and Dairy" groups of cows accounted for 69.6% of the total population, and 82.3% of all conditions observed. The most common conditions observed in Europe and the United States were LBCS, PUC, and SL, while LBCS, NA, and AP were the 3 most common conditions in Brazil.

Cover image of Volume 52, No. 2 of the Bovine Practitioner: a vintage painting of a white cow gazing at the viewer that fades at the edges into the black background. Image courtesy of the Vintage Barn Market in Blissfield, Michigan.

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Published

2018-06-01

How to Cite

Vogel, K. D., Lee, T. L., Feinberg, B., Loneragan, G. H., Walker, J., Edwards-Callaway, L. N., Siemens, M. G., & Thomson, D. U. (2018). An Intercontinental survey of commercial abattoirs: Preliminary data on the prevalence of advanced preslaughter health and welfare conditions in mature cows. The Bovine Practitioner, 52(2), 109–119. https://doi.org/10.21423/bovine-vol52no2p109-119

Issue

Vol. 52, No. 2 (2018 Summer)

Section

Articles

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