The transport and pre-slaughter period for cattle involves significant welfare risks from stress, mixing, and handling that require careful management to minimise suffering before death.
Pre-slaughter welfare for cattle involves a chain of handling events from farm to stunning that each carry welfare risks. Poorly managed loading, mixing during transport, extended lairage, and rough handling with electric prods all contribute to elevated cortisol and fear in the hours before death. Low-stress handling training and facility design (curved races, non-slip floors, appropriate lighting) demonstrably reduce stress indicators. Effective stunning is the critical welfare endpoint: a correctly stunned animal is rendered immediately insensible. CCTV in all abattoirs with mandatory veterinary oversight of stunning efficacy provides the most reliable welfare assurance at slaughter.