Page 159 - The Welfare of Cattle

136 the WeLfare of CattLe

antemortem inspection by FSIS, they are required to be humanely euthanized and have their car-
casses disposed appropriately.
The Humane Methods of Slaughter Act and 9 C.F.R §313 clearly require that all cattle in lairage
must have access to water at all times. Recently, slaughter establishments have begun to grapple
with the challenge of identifying cattle in sternal recumbence that are nonambulatory among other
cattle that are in sternal recumbence but able to rise and walk, in a timely manner. Since both types
of cattle have the same appearance while laying down, it is difficult to determine which animals are
not able to access the water trough in lairage. Cattle are capable of withstanding water withdrawal
for 18 hours in ambient temperatures near freezing (Vogel et al. 2011) before showing physiologi-
cal changes associated with dehydration. However, warmer ambient temperatures are likely to
increase water turnover within cattle and reduce the interval between drinking events. At this time,
a common solution to the challenge of identifying nonambulatory cattle in lairage is to have plant
personnel check the animals in lairage to be sure they can stand up and walk twice per day during
the days that the slaughter process is not operating and for cattle that are held in lairage overnight.
Although this solution is not perfect because it is unknown exactly when animals reach nonambula-
tory status, it begins to address the issue. Future innovation regarding this challenge may include
the expansion of video monitoring capability or the adaption of other technologies, such as thermal
imaging, to reduce the labor associated with identifying nonambulatory cattle in lairage and allow
timely identification and response to those animals.

LaYOUt aND erGONOMICS OF StUNNING PLatFOrM

Multiple factors have been identified that contribute to the occurrence of ineffective stunning in
beef slaughter facilities (Grandin, 2002). However, the layout and ergonomic profile of the stunning
platform is often overlooked when slaughter establishments are evaluating causes for stunning prob-
lems. It is important to make sure that stunning equipment is fully operational, well maintained,
and stunner operators are well-trained in stunner placement and operation. In addition, the position
that the stunner operator is required to maintain during the stunning process must be evaluated. The
stunner operator must have a clear view of the heads of cattle that will be stunned. The best vantage
points are directly in front of the animal or to the front and side of the animal. Standing directly
adjacent to, or behind cattle that are about to be stunned impedes the ability of the stunner operator
to clearly see the appropriate landmarks to effectively stun the animal. Requiring stunner operators
to operate stunning equipment in physical positions that are unnatural and require substantial reach-
ing or movement of heavy equipment are also likely to result in the development of operator fatigue.
As workspaces in the stunning and restraint area of beef slaughter facilities are remodeled or newly
constructed, substantial planning should be allocated to assuring that the work flow and ergonomic
design of the space and equipment helps to alleviate fatigue.

reFereNCeS

Ahola, J. K., H. A. Foster, D. L. VanOverbeke, K. S. Jensen, R. L. Wilson, J. B. Glaze Jr., T. E. Fife, C. W. Gray,
S. A. Nash, R. R. Panting, and N. R. Rimbey. 2010. Survey of quality defects in market beef and dairy
cows and bulls sold through livestock auction markets in the Western United States: I. Incidence rates.
J. Anim. Sci. 89: 1474–1483.
Apple J. K. 1999. Influence of body condition score on live and carcass value of cull beef cows. J Anim. Sci.
77: 2610–2620.
Grandin, T. 2002. Return-to-sensibility problems after penetrating captive bolt stunning of cattle in commercial
beef slaughter plants. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 221: 1258–1261.