Assessing welfare with the use of a mechanical rump pusher in a commercial cattle slaughter plant  

Year: 2024 

Megan French  
University of Glasgow, United Kingdom  

Supervisor: Dr Ellie Wigham (University of Glasgow, United Kingdom)  

HSA Student/Trainee Scholarship 2024 

The welfare of animals at slaughter has become an increasing consumer concern that influences producer and retailer practices. Variability in standard operating procedures (SOPs) and pressure over line efficiency make it difficult to determine the causation of negative impacts (such as bruising) on welfare in slaughter plants. This novel study, located in central Scotland, explores the welfare and meat quality implications of mechanical rump pushers, which can reduce human-animal interactions. The rump pusher is a metal plate that is initiated by an operator when an animal enters the rump pusher box but refuses to advance into the stun pen, in which case the metal ‘pusher’ is hydraulically lowered behind the rump of the animal and moves them forward.   

Observational data were collected on handling practices from a convenience sample of 815 cattle with 267 instances of rump pusher use. Cull dairy cattle required more coercion than other animal categories, with 60% needing the rump pusher to enter the stun box. A relationship between bruising and rump pusher use was observed, suggesting further research on factors like cattle age and type. These findings emphasize the need for more studies on rump pushers as potential alternatives to more aversive handling methods.