Some factors influencing behaviour of cattle in a slaughterhouse lairage

The factors affecting the ability of cattle to rest were studied in 127 groups of cattle during their first 3.5 h in a slaughterhouse lairage, focusing on one Hereford X Friesian steer or heifer in each group. In cattle arriving from markets, standing and moving behaviour and aggressive interactions decreased and lying behaviour increased with time in lairage. Steers settled faster than heifers and cattle in groups of >5 settled faster than cattle in smaller groups. The presence of straw was associated with increased lying behaviour. Cattle arriving from farms did not show signs of settling within 3.5 h of their arrival, but behaviour was affected by the physical and social environment. The differences between market and farm cattle are attributed to the greater familiarity with the type of environment and the greater need to rest in market cattle.