Shade is a mechanism to reduce heat load providing cattle with an environment supportive of their welfare needs. Although heat stress has been extensively reviewed, researched, and addressed in dairy production systems, it has not been investigated in the same manner in the beef cattle supply chain.
Family of missing vet call for continued search
The family of a vet missing after the capsize of a live export vessel are calling for the resumption and broadening of the search. 25-year-old Mount Isa vet Lukas Orda is among 40 crew members missing from the Gulf Livestock 1, a vessel which capsized amid typhoons off Japan in […]
Vet Ethics: The thorny question of cattle dehorning
Israeli TV has shown video of West Australian cattle in pain and distress from having their horns removed. The footage, which was taken by an Israeli animal rights group called Sentient, also showed workers kicking and abusing the cattle. One of the workers is heard in the footage to remark […]
Abstracts: Euthanasia of cattle: practical considerations and application
Acceptable methods for the euthanasia of cattle include overdose of an anaesthetic, gunshot and captive bolt. The use of anaesthetics for euthanasia is costly and complicates carcass disposal. These issues can be avoided by use of a physical method such as gunshot or captive bolt; however, each requires that certain […]
Abstracts: Analysis of stress indicators for evaluation of animal welfare and meat quality in traditional and Jewish slaughtering
Sixty Charolais male beef cattle of eight months of age were divided into two groups according to the slaughtering method, i.e., traditional or Kosher (religious Jewish rite). The aim of the study was to detect and compare the plasma concentrations of cortisol and catecholamines (dopamine, norepinephrine and epinephrine), by Elisa […]