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. 2024 Jun;48(3):1873-1878.
doi: 10.1007/s11259-024-10329-9. Epub 2024 Feb 13.

Factors intrinsic to handling and transport in pre-slaughter behavioural changes in beef cattle

Ricardo Zambarda Vaz  1 , Maryelen Medianeira Martins Dutra  2 , Rangel Fernandes Pacheco  3 , Leonir Luiz Pascoal  2 , Javier Alexander Bethancourt-Garcia  4 , Fabiano Nunes Vaz  5 , Sabrina Amália Jappe  3 , Haylleen Aparecida Oliveira Menezes de Sá  6 , João Restle  7
Affiliations

Factors intrinsic to handling and transport in pre-slaughter behavioural changes in beef cattle

Ricardo Zambarda Vaz et al. Vet Res Commun. 2024 Jun.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate handling and transport variables as potential causes of disturbed behaviour in response to seeing a person on an overhead observation platform during pre-slaughter in batches of females and castrated males composed of pure or crossed Bos Taurus animals (Aberdeen Angus, Red Angus, Hereford and Charolais) with a maximum of 37.5% Bos indicus, and maturity at slaughter varying from zero to eight teeth, coming from pasture and confined systems. For the batches of castrated males, the independent variables included the distance covered on the trip, and the handling and facilities on the farms. For the female batches, the variables were travel time and waiting time prior to unloading. For both sexes, the presence of horns in the batches and the load density were included in the regression equations. Disturbed behaviour, the result of factors related to animal handling and transportation, is detrimental to satisfactory results in production systems. It is up to the managers in the production chain to seek alternatives in order to minimise inappropriate behaviour, which is one determinant of loss. Handling and transport are determining factors in the behaviour of beef cattle during the pre-slaughter period.

Keywords: Animal welfare; Load density; Presence of horns; Travel distance; Travel time.

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