Lairage — the holding area where cattle wait before slaughter — is a critical welfare period where animal condition, behaviour, and stress determine both welfare outcomes and meat quality.
Cattle in poorly managed lairage experience fear from unfamiliar environments, aggression from mixed social groups, thirst and hunger from withdrawal periods, and rough handling from inadequately trained staff. High-welfare lairage design includes familiar-group holding, non-slip flooring, appropriate lighting, water access, and calm stockperson handling. Pre-slaughter stress compromises both animal welfare and meat quality, creating alignment between welfare and economic incentives that supports adoption of better practices.