One of the most important issues is starting with an animal that is fit for transport. It is impossible to assure good animal welfare during transport if the animal is unfit. Severely lame or weak, emaciated animals are not fit for transport. It is extremely difficult to transport downer, non-ambulatory cows in a manner which maintains good welfare. The emphasis has to be on preventing downers. Recent figures on the incidence of downer non-ambulatory cull dairy cows show that the problem has become worse since 1993. In beef cattle there has been a slight improvement. A major factor causing unfitness in some cows and pigs is overselection for milk or meat production. Lameness is increasing in some high producing dairy cows and sows. The 1999 audit of market cows and bulls showed that the incidence of arthritic joints has greatly increased in both dairy and beef cows. Modern hybrid pigs which have been selected for rapid growth, leanness and a large loin area are often prone to stress which causes the pig to become non-ambulatory. Observations at packing plants indicate that in certain genetic lines the incidence of transit deads and “stressor” pigs has increased. This is especially a problem in pigs with extreme muscling which have been grown to very heavy weights. Some of these pigs are so fragile that transport insurance is difficult to obtain. These pigs have a very excitable temperament which makes loading and unloading a truck more difficult. Problems with extreme pigs occur when a producer is paid solely on leanness and loin size. Fortunately some of the vertically integrated companies are now breeding a more moderate pig which has better quality meat and it is more fit for transport. Another problem area is transport of day old “bobby” dairy calves before they can walk. Baby calves are not fit for long distance transport. Dairies need to form alliances with feedlots to produce feeder cattle. Good management is essential. Tired loading crews or overloading of trucks will increase bruises and injuries. Careful driving and avoiding sudden stops and starts will reduce injuries due to animals falling down. Observations at packing plants indicate that less than 20% of the dairies are responsible for 90% of the downers. Both good management and selection of animals for structural soundness are required to have fit animals for transport (webpage – www.grandin.com).
Livestock Handling Quality Assurance
By Temple Grandin, Colorado State University
Careful handling of pigs and cattle at the slaughter plant will help preserve meat quality. Cattle handled quietly have less bruising and cattle which remain calm during handling are less likely to have dark cutting or tough meat. In pigs, quiet handling and a minimum of electric prod use in the stunning chute will reduce PSE approximately 10%. Meat damage from poor injection technique may be reduced in animals that are handled quietly. Proper injection technique is easier in calm animals. Neck extender bars should be removed from the headgate of the squeeze chute to provide access to the neck for subcutaneous injections. Cattle that have been handled quietly can be backed up in the headgate to prevent movement of the head. People manage what they measure. Objective scoring should be used to measure the quality of handling. Vocalization scoring can be used to assess handling quality. The percentage of cattle that vocalize (moo or bellow) during handling through chutes is tabulated. See www.grandin.com survey and research section for more information. Other measures are the percentage of animals prodded with an electric prod and the percentage of cattle that walk quietly into a squeeze chute. Cattle that walk quietly into the squeeze chute are less likely to get shoulder injuries which cause extensive meat damage. Cattle that are handled quietly with a minimum of electric prod use will vocalize less than cattle that are excessively prodded with an electric prod. Squeal scoring can be used in pigs to assess handling quality. Several studies show that vocalization is correlated with physiological measures of stress in both cattle and pigs. To maintain handling quality, continuous measurement is required on a regular basis. It is just like measuring microbiological levels. They have to be measured on a regular basis to keep them low. Handling has to e continually monitored to prevent people from becoming careless and rough. Handling quality could also be measured electronically in feedlots by measuring shaking of the squeeze chute via a signal from the electronic scale under it. Radar could be easily used to measure cattle exit speed. These measurements could be correlated by computer to weight gain, health, injection sites, bruises and other factors.