Beef Quality Assurance Avoiding bruises Quick Tips on Handling & Facilities Josh Davy UC Extension – Tehama, Glenn, Colusa

Top ten quality challenges to the industry of Audit “Too frequent and severe bruises” “Too frequent and severe bruises” Bruises affect the value of not only carcasses, but also byproducts Bruises affect the value of not only carcasses, but also byproducts “Bruising from improper cattle handling costs the industry over $250 million annually in carcass trim at the time of processing” (NCBA, 2000). “Bruising from improper cattle handling costs the industry over $250 million annually in carcass trim at the time of processing” (NCBA, 2000). Cattle are responsible for about two-thirds of all human injuries caused by farm animals. (Hunkle, Hubert, & Harp, 1997). Cattle are responsible for about two-thirds of all human injuries caused by farm animals. (Hunkle, Hubert, & Harp, 1997).

What can cause bruises? Loin bruises Narrow gates, horns Gates hitting the side of the animal Protruding gate latches, boards, and sharp edges Shoulder Bruises Rough handling Presence of horns Broken flipper gates in runways Protruding gate latches, boards, and sharp edges Back Bruises Improperly adjusted one-way gates Vertical gates hitting the back (should be padded) Tall cattle hitting their backs when exiting the bottom compartment of a semi-trailer

Principles of animal behavior Cattle vision Cattle vision Can’t see directly behind them Can’t see directly behind them They will move to lit areas, but not blinding light They will move to lit areas, but not blinding light Noise Noise Flight Zone Flight Zone Use to your advantage, but all animals are different Use to your advantage, but all animals are different Natural circling behavior Natural circling behavior Curved chute Curved chute Natural following behavior Natural following behavior Never take a single animal to load a runway Never take a single animal to load a runway

Transporting Heat and cold stress can make em sick (morbidity) and kill em (mortality) Heat and cold stress can make em sick (morbidity) and kill em (mortality) Starts, stops, and cornering Starts, stops, and cornering Rest Rest Check cattle after first 2 hrs Check cattle after first 2 hrs Check cattle every 4 hrs after that Check cattle every 4 hrs after that Density Density How many can we fit? How many can we fit?

Recommended Truck-Loading Densities Ex. 16 ft stock, 7 ft wide Feed-Fed Steers or Cows, Average Weight Horned or Tipped or More Than 10% Horned or Tipped Polled or Dehorned lbs.sq. ft. - hd , , – 7 1, From Grandin, T. Reducing Bruising in Cattle. BCH-4410.

Common Reasons for Baulking Beef Cattle Handling and Facility Design, Temple Grandin Sparkling reflections on puddles Sparkling reflections on puddles Shadows – reflection often looks like a cattle guard Shadows – reflection often looks like a cattle guard Reflections on smooth metal Reflections on smooth metal Loose chains that jiggle Loose chains that jiggle Metal clanging Metal clanging High pitch noise High pitch noise Air hissing – compressors, etc. Air hissing – compressors, etc. Head on air drafts Head on air drafts Moving plastic Moving plastic Fan blade movement Fan blade movement People moving People moving Small objects on floor Small objects on floor Clothing on a fence Clothing on a fence

Common facility corrections Beef Cattle Handling and Facility Design, Temple Grandin If you use a curve design make sure cattle can see at least 2 body lengths ahead of them – no dead ends If you use a curve design make sure cattle can see at least 2 body lengths ahead of them – no dead ends If a back stop is used where cattle load a runway, avoid hanging chains (try a rope to hang the gate that can be released when they go in) If a back stop is used where cattle load a runway, avoid hanging chains (try a rope to hang the gate that can be released when they go in) Runway – Cattle in

Common facility corrections Beef Cattle Handling and Facility Design, Temple Grandin Crowd pen Crowd pen gates solid (if panel gates, cover the panels with plywood or something that can’t be seen through – same with crowd pen fence gates solid (if panel gates, cover the panels with plywood or something that can’t be seen through – same with crowd pen fence Gates 12 ft. long – 10 ft min Gates 12 ft. long – 10 ft min Keep crowding pen ½ to ¾ full Keep crowding pen ½ to ¾ full Fence height Fence height 5 ft. – British breeds 5 ft. – British breeds 5.5 – 6ft – Continental or ear breeds 5.5 – 6ft – Continental or ear breeds

Common facility corrections Beef Cattle Handling and Facility Design, Temple Grandin Squeeze chutes Squeeze chutes 555 psi for hydraulic chutes 555 psi for hydraulic chutes Loading chutes Loading chutes 30” wide – works for bulls and cows 30” wide – works for bulls and cows 20 degree slope for loading 20 degree slope for loading Runway width – straight sided Runway width – straight sided 26” wide cows 26” wide cows 18” wide for calves 18” wide for calves Straight funnels into runway should be 30 degrees Straight funnels into runway should be 30 degrees

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