The impact of handling conditions and new environments on the stress of cattle

The objective of this research was to assess the relative levels of stress exhibited by cattle in common Australian handling and management conditions in a feedlot and processing plant. The impacts of cattle temperament on stress indicators compared to the difference in stress due to the environment (different time points) was assessed. The impact of stress and temperament on production characteristics and meat quality was also investigated with the aim of determining if measurements in the feed lotting and pre-processing time periods could predict carcase traits and meat quality.

Cattle under the handling and management strategies utilised at the trial feedlot showed significant improvement in their temperament over their 100-day feedlot stay, which is likely related to the excellent low-stress stock handling of cattle at the feedlot and in the pre-processing period.

This project determined that in well managed cattle production systems the stress of cattle is low to moderate at all time points, and that overall, the measures stress at processing are lower than at the time of induction to the feedlot.