The study examined the impact of preslaughter management factors on cattle welfare and meat quality at five commercial fed cattle processing facilities in the U.S., collecting data from 87,220 cattle between March 2021 and July 2022. Key factors analyzed included transport distance, unloading wait times, lairage (holding) duration and density, and cattle mobility. On average, cattle traveled 156 km, waited 30 minutes to unload, and were held in lairage pens for 200 minutes. Most cattle showed normal mobility, and about 65% of bruised carcasses had multiple bruises. The findings highlight areas for improvement, such as reducing wait times, optimizing lairage densities, and minimizing bruising. Future research should explore the economic impact and industry adoption of better practices.
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