The welfare of beef cattle in finishing systems — the final phase before slaughter — depends on housing quality, social management and nutritional provision.
Beef finishing welfare ranges from excellent in outdoor extensive systems to poor in crowded indoor barley beef units with inadequate social management. Regrouping at the start of finishing causes aggression and stress that can last days. Disease risk increases in poorly ventilated buildings at high stocking densities. The welfare of slaughter transport — journey length, loading quality and slaughterhouse handling — determines the final welfare experience of each animal.