Fusi Francesca, Allegri Camilla, Gregori Alessandra, Monaci Claudio, Gabriele Sara, Bernardo Tiziano, Lorenzi Valentina, Romeo Claudia, Scali Federico, Scuri Lucia, Bontempi Giorgio, Nobile Maria, Bertocchi Luigi, Alborali Giovanni Loris, Ianieri Adriana, Ghidini Sergio
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia-Romagna, Via Antonio Bianchi 9, 25124 Brescia, Italy.
Department of Food and Drug, Parma University, Via del Taglio 10, 43126 Parma, Italy.
Animals (Basel). 2025 Jul 30;15(15):2239. doi: 10.3390/ani15152239.
On-farm emergency slaughter (OFES) is employed when cattle are unfit for transport but still suitable for human consumption, thereby ensuring animal welfare and reducing food waste. This study analysed OFES patterns in Northern Italy, where a large cattle population is housed but information on the practice is rarely analysed. A total of 12,052 OFES cases from 2021 to 2023 were analysed. Most involved female cattle (94%) from dairy farms (79%). Locomotor disorders were the leading reason (70%), particularly trauma and fractures, followed by recumbency (13%) and calving-related issues (10%). Post-mortem findings showed limbs and joints as the most frequent condemnation sites (36%), often linked to trauma. A significant reduction in OFES cases occurred over time, mainly due to fewer recumbency and calving issues, likely reflecting stricter eligibility criteria introduced in 2022. Weekly variations, with peaks on Mondays and lows on Saturdays, suggest that logistical constraints may sometimes influence OFES promptness. These findings suggest that on-farm management and animal handling could be improved further to reduce welfare risks and carcass waste. Due to the lack of standardised data collection and regulatory harmonisation, a multi-country investigation could improve our understanding of this topic and inform best practice.
当牛不适于运输但仍适合人类食用时，会采用农场紧急屠宰（OFES），从而确保动物福利并减少食物浪费。本研究分析了意大利北部的农场紧急屠宰模式，该地区饲养了大量牛群，但关于这种做法的信息很少被分析。对2021年至2023年期间的12052例农场紧急屠宰案例进行了分析。大多数涉及奶牛场的母牛（94%）（79%）。运动障碍是主要原因（70%），尤其是创伤和骨折，其次是躺卧不起（13%）和产犊相关问题（10%）。尸检结果显示，四肢和关节是最常被判定不合格的部位（36%），通常与创伤有关。随着时间的推移，农场紧急屠宰案例显著减少，主要是由于躺卧不起和产犊问题减少，这可能反映了2022年引入的更严格的合格标准。每周都有变化，周一出现高峰，周六出现低谷，这表明后勤限制有时可能会影响农场紧急屠宰的及时性。这些发现表明，可以进一步改善农场管理和动物处理方式，以降低福利风险和胴体浪费。由于缺乏标准化的数据收集和监管协调，多国调查可能会增进我们对这一主题的理解，并为最佳实践提供依据。
