Effect of animal welfare audits of slaughter plants by a major fast food company on cattle handling and stunning practices

OBJECTIVE: To determine the percentages of cattle that are stunned correctly and that vocalize (moo or bellow) when a major meat-buying customer conducts slaughter plant audits. DESIGN: Survey of existing practices. SAMPLE POPULATION: 22 federally inspected slaughter plants. PROCEDURE: The 3 variables evaluated in each slaughter plant were stunning efficacy, insensibility on the bleed rail, and vocalization. RESULTS: Of the 22 slaughter plants, 17 (77%) rendered > or = 95% of the cattle insensible with a single shot from a captive bolt stunner. Twenty slaughter plants (91%) rendered 100% of the cattle completely insensible before hanging them on the bleed rail. Eighteen of 21 (86%) slaughter plants achieved cattle vocalization scores of < or = 3%. The mean vocalization score for all slaughter plants was 3.08%. Vocalization ranged from 0.66 to 17%. CONCLUSIONS: Results of this study indicate that audits of slaughter plants by major meat-buying customers may motivate the meat industry to improve handling and stunning practices.