Bruising of cattle can result in economic loss to the meat industry and is one indicator of welfare problems associated with pre-slaughter management. This study quantified the occurrence of potentially traumatic events (hit gate, hit structure, mounting, fall, slip, butting, horning) during pre-slaughter handling of 350 groups of cattle (n=3296), and carcase bruising of 340 groups (n=3270), slaughtered at two commercial slaughterhouses during 22 working days. The cattle were transported to the slaughterhouses in commercial transporters and farm vehicles and were mainly Limousin, Charolais and Simmental crosses. At slaughterhouse A 124 groups (n=1058) had been transported direct from farms, and 48 groups (n=626) were from markets. At slaughterhouse B 122 groups (n=896) were from farms, and 56 groups (n=716) were from markets.