RT Journal Article
T1 Welfare of beef cattle
A1 Nielsen, Søren Saxmose
A1 Álvarez Sánchez, Julio
A1 Boklund, Anette
A1 Dippel, Sabine
A1 Dorea, Fernanda
A1 Figuerola, Jordi
A1 Herskin, Mette S.
A1 Michel, Virginie
A1 Miranda Chueca, Miguel Angel
A1 Nannoni, Eleonora
A1 Nonno, Romolo
A1 Riber, Anja B.
A1 Stahl, Karl
A1 Stegeman, Jan Arend
A1 Thulke, Hans‐Hermann
A1 Tuyttens, Frank
A1 Cozzi, Giulio
A1 Knierim, Ute
A1 Martí, Sònia
A1 Mullan, Siobhan
A1 Ashe, Sean
A1 Cecchinato, Giulia
A1 Lima, Eliana
A1 Mosbach‐Schulz, Olaf
A1 Vitali, Marika
A1 Zanna, Martina Benedetta
A1 Winckler, Christoph
AB This Scientific Opinion provides an assessment of beef cattle welfare focusing onrisks related to flooring, water access, nutrition and feeding, high environmentaltemperatures, lack of environmental enrichment, lack of outdoor access, minimumspace allowance and mixing practices. In addition, risks related to pasture andfeedlots, weaning of suckler calves, mutilations (castration, disbudding, dehorn-ing and tail docking), and to breeding practices (hypermuscularity, dystocia andcaesarean sections, polledness, maternal ability and temperament) are assessed.Decision-making criteria for the euthanasia of cull cows are also addressed. A selec-tion of animal-based measures (ABMs) suitable for collection at slaughterhousesis proposed to monitor on-farm welfare of fattening cattle. Recommendations toimprove the welfare of housed fattening cattle include increasing space allow-ance and feeding more roughage in relation to current practice, and promotingthe use of well-managed bedded solid floors. Provision of enrichment such asbrushes and roughage and an outdoor loafing area for housed cattle are recom-mended. Cattle kept outdoors should have access to a dry lying area and sufficientshade. Water should be provided ad libitum via large open water surfaces, and theuse of nipple drinkers should be avoided. Mixing of unfamiliar cattle should beavoided and groups should be kept stable. Mutilations should be abstained from,but if carried out, a combination of analgesia and anaesthesia should be appliedregardless of the calf's age. Early weaning of suckler calves should be avoided (< 6months). Homozygous double-muscled animals should be excluded from breed-ing. Selected ABMs for collection at slaughterhouses to monitor some of the highlyrelevant welfare consequences experienced by fattening cattle on farm are bodycondition, carcass fat levels, carcass condemnation, lung lesions and skin lesions.Key data gaps identified are thresholds for dietary fibre, ABM thresholds for fitnessfor transport and potential long-term effects of mutilations on pain sensitisation
PB Wiley
YR 2025
FD 2025
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/124563
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/124563
LA eng
NO EFSA AHAW Panel (EFSA Panel on Animal Health and Welfare), Nielsen, S. S., Alvarez, J., Boklund, A., Dippel, S., Dorea, F., Figuerola, J., Herskin, M. S., Michel, V., Miranda Chueca, M. A., Nannoni, E., Nonno, R., Riber, A. B., Stahl, K., Stegeman, J. A., Thulke, H.-H., Tuyttens, F., Cozzi, G., Knierim, U., … Winckler, C. (2025). Welfare of beef cattle. EFSA Journal, 23(7), e9518. https://doi.org/10.2903/j.efsa.2025.9518
NO Acknowledgements: The AHAW Panel wishes to thank the following for the support provided to this scientific output: Luc Mounier (hearingexpert) and Eléa Bailly- Caumette (under contract EOI/EFSA/2022/01 – CT 24 BIOHAW) for conducting preparatory work.The Panel wishes to acknowledge all European competent institutions, Member State bodies and other stakeholders thatprovided information via the Public call for evidence.
DS Docta Complutense
RD 11 abr 2026