Farm Animal Welfare

Cattle Welfare and Lairage: Waiting and Mixing at Slaughter

Lairage - the holding of cattle at slaughter plants - causes stress, mixing-related aggression and welfare problems. Good lairage management significantly reduces pre-slaughter suffering.

Key Facts

Cattle mixed with unfamiliar animals in lairage experience significant aggression
Lairage duration affects meat quality via stress hormones and dark-cutting beef
Adequate water and bedding provision reduces stress during lairage waiting periods
High-sided races and calm driving reduce fear during movement through lairage
CCTV monitoring of lairage is mandatory in some jurisdictions to ensure welfare compliance

Welfare Considerations

Lairage is a welfare flashpoint at the end of the cattle supply chain. Good design, pen management and monitoring prevent unnecessary suffering in an already high-stress environment.

What You Can Do

Support mandatory CCTV in lairage as a welfare monitoring standard
Advocate for mixing minimisation protocols in cattle supply chain design
Choose beef from assured supply chains with lairage welfare verification