Department of Animal Science, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO.
Elanco Animal Health, Greenfield, IN.
J Anim Sci. 2020 Apr 1;98(4). doi: 10.1093/jas/skaa040.
Animal welfare within the U.S. slaughter industry continues to prevail as one of the top priorities for livestock producers, businesses, and consumers alike. There are federal regulations that enforce the humane transport, handling, and slaughter of cattle. The journey that cattle must make to the slaughter facility is comprised of many environmental and human factors that can positively or negatively affect animal welfare. Cattle may be exposed to multiple stressors, such as noise, unfamiliar animals and humans, temperature extremes, temporary food/water deprivation, variable transport distances and experiences, and new pen conditions. The animal caretakers involved in these processes attempt to minimize stress and discomfort for the animals, but research is needed to focus on the gaps in knowledge and to support the implementation of strategies known to enhance the human-animal interactions that occur from farm to slaughter. This literature review will provide a summary of fed cattle welfare topics, research, and industry tools that span across the beef animal's journey from the farm/feedlot through the slaughter process. In addition, areas that have had little research focus are identified to highlight the need for future work and development of industry tools. Some of these topics include examining trailer design, the use of trailer slats during weather extremes, the welfare aspects of cattle destined for salvage slaughter, multiple preslaughter factors and interactions, abnormal mobility and nonambulatory cattle, lairage environmental conditions, new stunning methods, and the impact of a well-trained, motivated, and stable workforce on cattle and people welfare. The authors conducted a survey at the 2019 North American Meat Institute Animal Care and Handling Conference, which comprised of stakeholders within the meat packing industry, packing plant employees, and food company employees, educators, and auditors. The survey responses identified training/education and communication as areas of need in animal welfare, whereas the majority of survey responses focused on the aspects of the human-animal interaction as the top challenges for the industry. By continuously identifying, measuring, monitoring, and managing animal welfare challenges within the beef cattle slaughter industry, prioritization and execution of programs and training that improve the welfare of cattle can be achieved as animals move through this final stage of the meat production system.
美国屠宰行业的动物福利仍然是畜牧业生产者、企业和消费者的首要任务之一。美国有联邦法规强制要求在牛的运输、处理和屠宰过程中体现人道关怀。牛在被运往屠宰场的过程中，会受到许多环境和人为因素的影响，这些因素可能会对动物福利产生积极或消极的影响。牛可能会面临多种压力源，例如噪音、陌生的动物和人类、极端温度、暂时的食物/水剥夺、运输距离和经验的变化，以及新的畜栏条件。参与这些过程的动物护理人员试图最大限度地减少动物的压力和不适，但需要进行研究，以填补知识空白，并支持实施已知能增强从农场到屠宰场的人类与动物互动的策略。本文综述了从农场/育肥场到屠宰过程中跨越肉牛旅程的联邦牛福利主题、研究和行业工具。此外，还确定了研究关注较少的领域，以突出未来工作和行业工具开发的必要性。这些主题包括检查拖车设计、极端天气下使用拖车板条、用于回收屠宰的牛的福利方面、多个屠宰前因素和相互作用、异常活动和非活动牛、畜栏环境条件、新的致昏方法，以及训练有素、积极主动、稳定的劳动力对牛和人类福利的影响。作者在 2019 年北美肉类协会动物护理和处理会议上进行了一项调查，调查对象包括肉类加工行业的利益相关者、加工厂员工和食品公司员工、教育工作者和审核员。调查回应确定了动物福利方面的培训/教育和沟通是需要关注的领域，而大多数调查回应都集中在人与动物互动方面，认为这是该行业面临的最大挑战。通过持续识别、测量、监测和管理牛肉屠宰行业的动物福利挑战，可以在动物通过肉类生产系统的最后阶段时，确定并执行改善牛福利的计划和培训。
