A study conducted by Colorado State University (CSU) provides insights into the impact of pre-slaughter management practices on animal welfare and meat quality in the U.S. beef industry.
The research evaluated key management factors such as travel distance, truck wait time and space allowance in holding pens. It found that multiple variables, including plant conditions, breed and environmental factors, impact cattle welfare and meat quality.
The study analyzed 619 slaughter lots, representing 87,220 head, at five federally inspected processing facilities. The cattle were 88.8% Bos taurus, 7.6% Bos indicus and 3.6% Holsteins. Most cattle were steers (56.4%), nearly one-third were heifers (32%) and the rest were steers and heifers in mixed lots.
A common finding in this study was the variation between plants and shifts in key outcome variables, such as mobility scores, bruising prevalence, dark cutting, quality grades and hot carcass weights (HCW).
The authors said the differences could be attributed to variations in company management practices and protocols and regional factors like environmental conditions, breed types and plant proximity to feedlots. Additionally, the study highlighted differences between shifts, with factors such as changes in employees and management, as well as truck arrival and wait times during shift transitions, potentially influencing these outcomes.
Mobility
Concern for cattle mobility gained attention about a decade ago when elevated mobility impairment issues were reported in cattle arriving at packing plants. In response, industry experts implemented the use of the Meat Institute’s Mobility Scoring System, a widely used tool to monitor cattle mobility.
The mobility scoring has been incorporated into industry benchmarking efforts. The 2016 National Beef Quality Audit (NBQA) and the CSU study each reported high percentages of cattle with normal mobility (96.8% and 91.8%, respectively).
Transportation
The CSU study authors noted the ongoing consolidation of feedlot operations and processing plants has led to longer animal transportation distances. The study found that increased travel distance was linked to higher odds of mobility impairment in cattle. This finding aligns with previous research, indicating that longer durations and distances on trucks raise the likelihood of mobility issues or cattle becoming non-ambulatory. However, the authors said the effect was slight, suggesting that further investigation is needed to understand this relationship fully.
Truck waiting times also significantly impacted mobility outcomes. The study found that longer waiting times were associated with higher odds of cattle experiencing mobility impairments. The odds of mobility issues increased by 0.3% for each additional minute of waiting.
Bruising
The authors highlighted that bruise prevalence in the industry remains high, with the current study reporting a rate of 69.8%. To simplify the evaluation of carcass bruising and facilitate comparison across studies, the authors used a binary variable (bruised/not bruised) in this study. The study found that breed type was a significant factor, with Holstein cattle showing increased odds of bruising compared to beef breeds. Larger frame sizes in Holsteins may contribute to more traumatic events during transportation, leading to higher bruising rates. Additionally, the study identified that sex influenced bruising, with steers more likely to be bruised than heifers, possibly due to their larger body mass and behavior.
The authors found that longer holding pen durations were associated with decreased odds of carcass bruising, although other research has reported increased bruising with extended holding pen times. Comparing holding pen durations across studies is challenging due to variations in what constitutes “short” and “long” durations and differing holding pen conditions from plant to plant.
The authors suggested further research across different holding pen conditions, with consistent durations, could enhance the understanding of holding pens’ effects on welfare and meat quality outcomes, especially when coupled with a focus on cattle behavior while in holding pens.
Quality grading
The authors found that several factors, including breed type, environmental conditions and holding pens, were associated with dark cutting in the study. Compared to Holstein cattle, B. taurus cattle had lower odds of dark cutting, while B. indicus cattle had higher odds of dark cutting. This aligns with previous findings that B. indicus cattle tend to produce darker meat.
Holstein and B. indicus cattle, being more heat-tolerant than B. taurus cattle, may be more susceptible to colder temperatures, which could explain the decreased odds of dark cutting in B. taurus cattle. None of the transportation factors measured in the study were linked to dark cutting. The study found that increased space allowance was associated with higher odds of dark cutting. However, the authors suggest that further research into cattle behavior and risk factors in holding pens is needed to clarify this relationship.
The study found several preslaughter factors, including breed type, sex class, transportation and environmental conditions, are associated with quality grading. Many B. taurus and B. indicus influences were linked to lower odds of poorer quality grades than Holstein cattle. Sex also played a role, with steer lots having increased odds of poorer quality grades and heifer lots showing decreased odds, which contrasts with the 2016 NBQA findings.
The authors suggested further research is needed to better understand the relationship between truck waiting time and quality grade, but minimizing waiting times remains important for cattle welfare, especially in warmer weather.
The study highlighted significant efforts within the beef industry to enhance animal welfare and meat quality but also emphasized there is still room for improvement. The authors noted specific areas where further research is needed, such as understanding cattle behavior in holding pens and tracking changes in cattle mobility during the preslaughter phase. Additionally, the study identifies gaps in knowledge regarding the effects of truck waiting times and preslaughter factors on quality grades. — Charles Wallace, WLJ contributing editor
