Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-jbqgn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-07T19:22:15.259Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Integrative surveillance of cattle welfare at the abattoir level: Risk factors associated with liver condemnation, severe hoof disorders, carcase bruising and high muscle pH

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2023

N Losada-Espinosa ,
LX Estévez-Moreno ,
M Bautista-Fernández ,
H Losada ,
GA María  and
GC Miranda-de la Lama
N Losada-Espinosa
Affiliation:
Graduate Program in Sciences of Animal Health and Production, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, National Autonomous University of Mexico, UNAM, Mexico
LX Estévez-Moreno
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Production and Food Science, IA2 Institute, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
M Bautista-Fernández
Affiliation:
Graduate Program in Sciences of Animal Health and Production, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, National Autonomous University of Mexico, UNAM, Mexico
H Losada
Affiliation:
Department of Reproductive Biology, Metropolitan Autonomous University, UAM-Iztapalapa, Mexico
GA María
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Production and Food Science, IA2 Institute, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
GC Miranda-de la Lama*
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Production and Food Science, IA2 Institute, University of Zaragoza, Zaragoza, Spain
*
* Contact for correspondence: [email protected]
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Given the multi-dimensionality of animal welfare, any monitoring system for slaughter animals should comprise an integrative vision that facilitates animal welfare and food safety assessment. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate risk factors as possible causes for liver condemnations, hoof disorders, bruise prevalence, and the quality of beef carcases under commercial operating conditions in Mexico. Data were recorded for 143 journeys encompassing 1,040 commercial cattle, originating from feedlots, free-range, and dairy production systems. Details on journey distance, vehicle type, cattle type, and animals’ origin were gathered from abattoir reports. We found that carcase bruising (41%) and hoof disorders (43.9%) had the highest prevalence, regardless of the production system. Variables such as cattle type and production system influenced liver condemnations; old bulls extensively raised were more prone to present parasitosis such as Fasciola hepatica. Transportation conditions (journey distance, vehicle type) and cattle type might have influenced the development of hoof disorders in the evaluated animals. Multivariable logistic regression showed that animals’ origin was a potential risk factor for severe bruising and high muscle pH, with cull dairy cows getting the most serious damage. In general, cattle transport conditions were factors that showed interactions with three of the evaluated indicators (severe hoof injuries, carcase bruising, meat pH24h). Our study shows the need to implement integrative surveillance to identify risk factors according to the production system from which the animals originate. With this information it is possible to develop strategies to mitigate specific cattle welfare problems.

Keywords

animal welfarecattleindicatorsmeat qualityrisk factorsvoluntary abattoir surveillance
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 30 , Issue 4 , November 2021 , pp. 393 - 407
Copyright
© 2021 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

References

Almeida da Costa, R, Corbellini, L, Castro-Janer, E and Riet-Correa, F 2019 Evaluation of losses in carcasses of cattle naturally infected with Fasciola hepatica: effects on weight by age range and on carcass quality parameters. International Journal for Parasitology 49: 867–872. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijpara.2019.06.005CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Alton, G, Pearl, D, Bateman, K, McNab, W and Berke, O 2012 Suitability of bovine portion condemnations at provincially-inspected abattoirs in Ontario Canada for food animal syndromic surveillance. BMC Veterinary Research 8: 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1186/1746-6148-8-88CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Alvergnas, M, Strabel, T, Rzewuska, K and Sell-Kubiak, E 2019 Claw disorders in dairy cattle: Effects on production, welfare and farm economics with possible prevention methods. Livestock Science 222: 54–64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2019.02.011CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Barbosa, R, Pinto, C, Garcia, P and Rodrigues, A 2019 Prevalence of fasciolosis in slaughtered dairy cattle from São Miguel Island, Azores, Portugal. Veterinary Parasitology 17: 100319. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vprsr.2019.100319Google ScholarPubMed
Bautista-Fernández, M, Estevez-Moreno, L, Losada-Espinosa, N, Villarroel, M, María, G, De Blas, I and Miranda-de la Lama, G 2021 Claw disorders as iceberg indicators of cat-tle welfare: Evidence-based on production system, severity, and associations with final muscle pH. Meat Science: 108496. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2021.108496CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bethancourt-Garcia, J, Zambarda Vaz, R, Nunes Vaz, F, Barros Silva, W, Luiz Pascoal, L, Souza Mendonça, F, Crizel da Vara, C, Costa Nuñez, AJ and Restle, J 2019 Pre-slaughter factors affecting the incidence of severe bruising in cattle carcass-es. Livestock Science 222: 41–48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2019.02.009CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Boray, J 2017 Liver fluke disease in sheep and cattle. NSW Government: NSW, Australia. https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/114691/li ver-fluke-disease-in-sheep-and-cattle.pdfGoogle Scholar
Bruijnis, M, Beerda, B, Hogeveen, H and Stassen, E 2011 Assessing the welfare impact of foot disorders in dairy cattle by a modeling approach. Animal 6: 962–970. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1751731111002606CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Capper, C 2001 The language of forensic medicine: the meaning of some terms explained. Medicine, Science and the Law 41: 256–259. https://doi.org/10.1177/002580240104100309CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cockram, M 2019 Fitness of animals for transport to slaughter. The Canadian Veterinary Journal 60(4): 423–429Google ScholarPubMed
Cockram, M and Spence, J 2012 The effects of driving events on the stability and resting behaviour of cattle, young calves and pigs. Animal Welfare 21: 403–417. https://doi.org/10.7120/09627286.21.3.403CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cruz-Monterrosa, R, Reséndiz-Cruz, V, Rayas-Amor, A, López, M and Miranda-de la Lama, G 2017 Bruises in beef cat-tle at slaughter in Mexico: implications on quality, safety and shelf life of the meat. Tropical Animal Health and Production 49: 145–152. https://doi-org/10.1007/s11250-016-1173-8CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dahl-Pedersen, K, Foldager, L, Herskin, M, Houe, H and Thomsen, P 2018a Lameness scoring and assessment of fitness for transport in dairy cows: Agreement among and between farm-ers, veterinarians and livestock drivers. Research in Veterinary Science 119: 162–166. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rvsc.2018.06.017CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dahl-Pedersen, K, Herskin, M, Houe, H and Thomsen, P 2018b A descriptive study of the clinical condition of cull dairy cows before transport to slaughter. Livestock Science 218: 108–113. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2018.11.001CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dahl-Pedersen, K, Herskin, M, Houe, H and Thomsen, P 2018c Risk factors for deterioration of the clinical condition of cull dairy cows during transport to slaughter. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 5: 1–8 https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2018.00297CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dupuy, C, Demont, P, Ducrot, C, Calavas, D and Gay, E 2014 Factors associated with offal, partial and whole carcass condemnation in ten French cattle slaughterhouses. Meat Science 97: 262–269. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2014.02.008CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Edwards-Callaway, L and Calvo-Lorenzo, M 2020 Animal welfare in the U.S. slaughter industry—a focus on fed cattle. Journal of Animal Science 98: 1–21. https://doi.org/10.1093/jas/skaa040CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Edwards-Callaway, L, Walker, J and Tucker, C 2019 Culling decisions and dairy cattle welfare during transport to slaughter in the United States. Frontiers in Veterinary Science 5: 1–5. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2018.00343CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Estévez-Moreno, L, Miranda-de la Lama, G, Villarroel, M, García, L, Abecia, J, Santolaria, P and María, G 2021 Revisiting cattle temperament in beef cow-calf systems: Insights from far-mers’ perceptions about an autochthonous breed. Animals 11(1): 82. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11010082CrossRefGoogle Scholar
FAWC 2009 Farm animal welfare in Great Britain: Past, present and future. FAWC: London, UK. https://www.ongehoord.info/wp-con-tent/uploads/2017/12/11-1.pdfGoogle Scholar
Ferguson, D and Warner, R 2008 Have we underestimated the impact of pre-slaughter stress on meat quality. Meat Science 80(1): 12–19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2008.05.004CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Grandin, T 2017 On-farm conditions that compromise animal welfare that can be monitored at the slaughter plant. Meat Science 132: 52–58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2017.05.004CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Harley, S, More, S, Boyle, L, O’Connell, N and Hanlon, A 2012 Good animal welfare makes economic sense: potential of pig abat-toir meat inspection as a welfare surveillance tool. Irish Veterinary Journal 65(1): 11. https://doi.org/10.1186/2046-0481-65-11CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hemsworth, P, Barnett, J, Beveridge, L and Matthews, L 1995 The welfare of extensively managed dairy cattle: A review. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 42: 161–182. https://doi.org/10.1016/0168-1591(94)00538-PCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hoffman, L and Lühl, J 2012 Causes of cattle bruising during handling and transport in Namibia. Meat Science 92(2): 115–124. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2012.04.021CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Howell, A, Tongue, S, Currie, C, Evans, J, Williams, D and McNeilly, T 2018 Co-infection with Fasciola hepatica may increase the risk of Escherichia coli O157 shedding in British cattle destined for the food chain. Preventive Veterinary Medicine 150: 70–76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2017.12.007CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Huertas, S, van Eerdenburg, F, Gil, A and Piaggio, J 2015 Prevalence of carcass bruises as an indicator of welfare in beef cat-tle and the relation to the economic impact. Veterinary Medicine and Science 1: 9–15. https://doi.org/10.1002/vms3.2CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Iannetti, L, Neri, D, Santarelli, GA, Cotturone, G, Vulpiani, MP, Salini, R, Antoci, S, Di Serafino, G, Di Giannatale, E, Pomilio, F and Messori, S 2020 Animal welfare and microbiolog-ical safety of poultry meat: Impact of different at-farm animal wel-fare levels on at-slaughterhouse Campylobacter and Salmonella con-tamination. Food Control 109: 106921. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2019.106921CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Knock, M and Carroll, G 2019 The potential of post-mortem carcass assessments in reflecting the welfare of beef and dairy cat-tle. Animals 9: 1–16. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9110959CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lee, T, Reinhardt, C, Bartle, S, Schwandt, E, Calvo-Lorenzo, M, Vahl, C, Hagenmaier, J, Ritter, M, Vogel, G and Thomson, D 2018 An epidemiological investigation to determine the preva-lence and clinical manifestations of slow-moving finished cattle presented to slaughter facilities. Translational Animal Science: 1–13. https://doi.org/10.1093/tas/txy056CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ljungberg, D, Gebresenbet, G and Aradom, S 2007 Logistics chain of animal transport and abattoir operations. Biosystems Engineering 96(2): 267–277. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biosystem-seng.2006.11.003CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Loredo-Osti, J, Sánchez-López, E, Barreras-Serrano, A, Figueroa-Saavedra, F, Pérez-Linares, C, Ruiz-Albarrán, M and Domínguez-Muñoz, M 2019 An evaluation of environmen-tal, intrinsic and pre- and post-slaughter risk factors associated to dark-cutting beef in a Federal Inspected Type slaughter plant. Meat Science 150: 85–92. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2018.12.007CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Magrin, L, Brscic, M, Armato, L, Contiero, B, Cozzi, G and Gottardo, F 2018 An overview of claw disorders at slaughter in finishing beef cattle reared in intensive indoor systems through a cross-sectional study. Preventive Veterinary Medicine 161: 83–89. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2018.10.018CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Magrin, L, Brscic, M, Armato, L, Contiero, B, Lotto, A, Cozzi, G and Gottardo, F 2020 Risk factors for claw disorders in inten-sively finished Charolais beef cattle. Preventive Veterinary Medicine 175: 104864. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2019.104864CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mahmood, S, Basarab, J, Dixon, W and Bruce, H 2016 Relationship between phenotype, carcass characteristics and the incidence of dark cutting in heifers. Meat Science 121: 261–271. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2016.06.020CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mahmood, S, Dixon, W and Bruce, H 2019 Cattle production practices and the incidence of dark cutting beef. Meat Science 157: 107873. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2019.107873CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mazeri, S, Rydevik, G, Handel, I, Barend, M and Sargison, N 2017 Estimation of the impact of Fasciola hepatica infection on time taken for UK beef cattle to reach slaughter weight. Scientific Reports 7(7319). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-07396-1CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Miranda-de La Lama, GC 2018 Transporte y bienestar animal: un enfoque integrador. Grupo Asís Biomedia, SL: Spain. [Title translation: Transport and animal welfare: An integrative approach]Google Scholar
Miranda-de la Lama, GC, Leyva, IG, Barreras-Serrano, A, Pérez-Linares, C, Sánchez-López, E, María, GA and Figueroa-Saavedra, F 2012 Assessment of cattle welfare at a commercial slaughter plant in the northwest of Mexico. Tropical Animal Health and Production 44(3): 497–504. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-011-9925-yCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Miranda-de la Lama, GC, Rodríguez-Palomares, M, Cruz-Monterrosa, RG, Rayas-Amor, AA, Pinheiro, RSB, Galindo, FM and Villarroel, M 2018 Long-distance transport of hair lambs: effect of location in pot-belly trailers on thermo-physiology, welfare and meat quality. Tropical Animal Health and Production 50(2): 327–336. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-017-1435-0CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Mpakama, T, Chulayo, A and Muchenje, V 2014 Bruising in slaughter cattle and its relationship with creatine kinase levels and beef quality as affected by animal related factors. Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences 27: 717–725. https://doi.org/10.5713/ajas.2013.13483CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ndou, S, Muchenje, V and Chimonyo, M 2011 Animal welfare in multipurpose cattle production systems and its implications on beef quality. African Journal of Biotechnology 10(7): 1049–1064Google Scholar
Nielsen, B, Dybkjær, L and Herskin, M 2010 Road transport of farm animals: effects of journey duration on animal welfare. Animal 5: 415–427. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1751731110001989CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ponnampalam, E, Hopkins, D, Bruce, H, Li, D, Baldi, G and Bekhit, A 2017 Causes and contributing factors to ‘dark cutting’ meat: Current trends and future directions: A review. Comprehensive Reviews in Food Science and Food Safety 16: 400–430. https://doi.org/10.1111/1541-4337.12258CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rezac, D, Thomson, D, Bartle, S, Osterstock, J, Prouty, F and Reinhardt, C 2014 Prevalence, severity, and relationships of lung lesions, liver abnormalities, and rumen health scores measured at slaughter in beef cattle. Journal of Animal Science 92: 2595–2602. https://doi.org/10.2527/jas2013-7222CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Romero, M, Uribe-Velásquez, L, Sánchez, J and Miranda-de la Lama, G 2013 Risk factors influencing bruising and high muscle pH in Colombian cattle carcasses due to transport and pre-slaughter operations. Meat Science 95(2): 256–263. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2013.05.014CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Romero, M, Uribe-Velásquez, L, Sánchez, J, Rayas-Amor, A and Miranda-de la Lama, G 2017 Conventional versus modern abattoirs in Colombia: Impacts on welfare indicators and risk fac-tors for high muscle pH in commercial Zebu young bulls. Meat Science 123: 173–181. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2016.10.003.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rushen, J 2003 Changing concepts of farm animal welfare: bridging the gap between applied and basic research. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 81(3): 199–214. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0168-1591(02)00281-2CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sánchez-Hidalgo, M, Rosenfeld, C and Gallo, C 2019 Associations between pre-slaughter and post-slaughter indicators of animal welfare in cull cows. Animals 9: 1–15. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani9090642CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sanchez-Vazquez, M and Lewis, F 2013 Investigating the impact of fasciolosis on cattle carcase performance. Veterinary Parasitology 193: 307–311. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2012.11.030CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Schuetze, S, Schwandt, E, Maghirang, R and Thomson, D 2017 Review: Transportation of commercial finished cattle and ani-mal welfare considerations. The Professional Animal Scientist 33: 509–519. https://doi.org/10.15232/pas.2017-01620CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schwartzkopf-Genswein, K, Ahola, J, Edwards-Callaway, L, Hale, D and Paterson, J 2016 Symposium Paper: Transportation issues affecting cattle wellbeing and considerations for the future. The Professional Animal Scientist 32: 707–716. https://doi.org/10.15232/pas.2016-01517CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schwartzkopf-Genswein, K, Faucitano, L, Dadgar, S, Shand, P, González, L and Crowe, T 2012 Road transport of cattle, swine and poultry in North America and its impact on animal wel-fare, carcass and meat quality: A review. Meat Science 92: 227–243. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2012.04.010.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Simova, V, Voslarova, E, Vecerek, V, Passantino, A and Bedanova, I 2016 Effects of travel distance and season of the year on transport-related mortality in cattle. Animal Science Journal 88: 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1111/asj.12658Google ScholarPubMed
Sonoda, Y, Oishi, K, Kumagai, H, Aoki, Y and Hirooka, H 2017 The effects of welfare-related management practices on carcass characteristics for beef cattle. Livestock Science 197: 112–116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.livsci.2017.01.015CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stärk, KDC, Alonso, S, Dadios, N, Dupuy, C, Ellerbroek, L, Georgiev, M, Hardstaff, J, Huneau-Salaün, A, Laugier, C, Mateus, A, Nigsch, A, Afonso, A and Lindberg, A 2014 Strengths and weaknesses of meat inspection as a contribution to animal health and welfare surveillance. Food Control 39: 154–162. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2013.11.009CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Strappini, A, Frankena, K, Metz, J, Gallo, C and Kemp, B 2010 Prevalence and risk factors for bruises in Chilean bovine carcass-es. Meat Science 86: 859–864. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2010.07.010CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Strappini, A, Frankena, K, Metz, J, Gallo, C and Kemp, B 2012 Characteristics of bruises in carcasses of cows sourced from farms or from livestock markets. Animal 6: 502–509. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1751731111001698CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Strappini, A, Metz, J, Gallo, C and Kemp, B 2009 Origin and assessment of bruises in beef cattle at slaughter. Animal 3: 728–736. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1751731109004091CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Tarrant, P 1990 Transportation of cattle by road. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 28: 153–170. https://doi.org/10.1016/0168-1591(90)90051-ECrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thomson, D, Loneragan, G, Henningson, J, Ensley, S and Bawa, B 2015 Description of a novel fatigue syndrome of finished feedlot cattle following transportation. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 247: 66–72. https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.247.1.66CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
United States Department of Agriculture 2018 Livestock and poultry: world markets and trade. https://apps.fas.usda.gov/psdonline/circulars/livestock_poultry.pdfGoogle Scholar
Valadez-Noriega, M, Estévez-Moreno, L, Rayas-Amor, A, Rubio-Lozano, M, Galindo, F and Miranda-de la Lama, G 2018 Livestock hauliers’ attitudes, knowledge and current prac-tices towards animal welfare, occupational wellbeing and trans-port risk factors: A Mexican survey. Preventive Veterinary Medicine 160: 76–84. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2018.09.023CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Valadez-Noriega, M, Méndez-Gómez-Humarán, M, Rayas-Amor, A, Sosa-Ferreyra, C, Galindo, F and Miranda-de la Lama, G 2020 Effects of greenhouse roofs on thermal comfort, behavior, health, and finishing performance of commercial zebu steers in cold arid environments. Journal of Veterinary Behavior 35: 54–61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2019.10.012CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Van Staaveren, N, Doyle, B, Manzanilla, E, Calderón Díaz, J, Hanlon, A and Boyle, L 2017 Validation of carcass lesions as indi-cators for on-farm health and welfare of pigs. Journal of Animal Science 95(4): 1528–1536. https://doi.org/10.2527/jas.2016.1180Google Scholar
Velarde, A and Dalmau, A 2012 Animal welfare assessment at slaughter in Europe: Moving from inputs to outputs. Meat Science 92: 244–251. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2012.04.009CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Veneable, W and Ripley, B 2002 Modern Applied Statistics with S, 4th Edition. Springer: New York, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-21706-2CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Warren, L, Mandell, I and Bateman, K 2010 Road transport conditions of slaughter cattle: Effects on the prevalence of dark, firm and dry beef. Canadian Journal of Animal Science 90: 471–482. https://doi.org/10.4141/cjas09091CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wigham, E, Butterworth, A and Wotton, S 2018 Assessing cattle welfare at slaughter – Why is it important and what chal-lenges are faced? Meat Science 145: 171–177. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.meatsci.2018.06.010CrossRefGoogle Scholar