Farm Animal Welfare

Cattle Pre-Slaughter Welfare and Lairage Management

Pre-slaughter welfare in lairage is a critical and often neglected component of cattle welfare across the supply chain.

Key Facts

Cattle in lairage show elevated cortisol from mixing unfamiliar animals
Social mixing of unfamiliar cattle causes fighting and injuries
Lairage duration beyond 12 hours without food increases stress significantly
Pen design and handling quality in lairage directly affect meat quality and welfare
CCTV monitoring of lairage is associated with improved handling standards

Welfare Considerations

The final hours before slaughter are intensely stressful for cattle. Mixing at lairage triggers aggression, handling causes fear, and prolonged periods without food cause hunger and distress. The welfare of cattle at slaughter is both an ethical obligation and a practical quality issue, since stress before slaughter impairs meat quality through its effects on muscle metabolism.

What You Can Do

Support CCTV requirements in all cattle lairage and slaughter facilities
Advocate for maximum lairage duration standards
Choose beef from supply chains with audited slaughter welfare standards