Page 158 - The Welfare of Cattle

transPortatIon and sLauGhter 135

off-site location provides the opportunity to observe an accurate representation of employee behav-
ior. The physical presence of an auditor during an in-person audit promotes employee behaviors that
will improve performance on the audit.

PreSLaUGhter haNDLING aND StUNNING ChaLLeNGeS

animal Condition

The condition of a portion of mature cattle presented for slaughter has been a long-term challenge
for the beef industry. Although it is important to remember that mature cows are slaughtered for
reasons that include common health and welfare issues, the reason for culling does not permit
a producer to neglect animals and allow them to reach severe states of those conditions. A 2010
report on the condition of cows that were sold for slaughter in the western U.S. revealed that 34.8%
of culled dairy cows and 10.4% of culled beef cows displayed body condition scores less than 2.0
(Ahola et al., 2010). The same study identified 2% of dairy cows as severely lame. A large national
study reported that 2.7% of dairy cows displayed severe lameness at slaughter facilities (Nicholson
et al., 2013). In contrast, 0.2% of beef cows were identified as severely lame in the same study. The
2016 National Beef Quality Audit reported that 0.1% of steers and heifers displayed a mobility score
of 3 on a 4 point scale. A score of 3 was defined as “Exhibit(ing) obvious stiffness, difficulty taking
steps, obvious limp, obvious discomfort, lags behind normal cattle.” All other cattle in the study
were able to keep up with other cattle during movement and the vast majority (96.8%) displayed
no apparent lameness (NCBA, 2016b). When animal welfare and quality issues, such as poor body
condition, poor udder condition, and severe lameness are identified, it is important for feedback
regarding those animals to reach the producers that introduced animals with such conditions to the
marketing chain. In the most recent iteration of the National Dairy FARM Program, materials have
been incorporated to assist dairy farmers in making good choices regarding culling practices and
drug administration. Some university dairy science programs have begun to incorporate beef qual-
ity and culling decision materials in locations within their curricula that all students are likely to
encounter. The appropriate and careful use of education is a powerful tool in addressing and fixing
animal welfare and quality issues that are chronic in nature with multiple causative factors.

Identification of Nonambulatory animals in Lairage

In 2007, an undercover expose of abusive and inhumane handling practices was released from
Hallmark Westland Packing in Chino, CA. The video was captured and released by the Humane
Society of the United States. The release of the video to national media outlets resulted in increased
public concern regarding the handling of cattle at slaughter facilities. In addition, further investiga-
tion by the USDA revealed that nonambulatory cattle were being slaughtered for human consumption
at Hallmark Westland without passing FSIS antemortem inspection. Due to the potential for food
safety implications as a result of allowing meat from nonambulatory cattle into the food supply, the
Hallmark Westland incident resulted in the largest beef recall in U.S. history at that time. Much of
the product included in the recall had already been consumed, but the company filed for bankruptcy
protection in the wake of the financial loss associated with the event.
Prior to the Hallmark Westland incident, it was illegal to slaughter nonambulatory cattle for
human consumption with the exception of cattle that had passed antemortem inspection by FSIS
and became nonambulatory immediately before the restraint system during preslaughter handling.
In those cases, plant personnel were allowed to stun nonambulatory cattle in their location and drag
the carcass into the production process. After the beef recall associated with Hallmark Westland
Packing, this exception was no longer allowed. If cattle become nonambulatory at any time after