Occurrence and Reasons for On-Farm Emergency Slaughter (OFES) in Northern Italian Cattle
Francesca Fusi,
Camilla Allegri,
Alessandra Gregori,
Claudio Monaci,
Sara Gabriele,
Tiziano Bernardo,
Valentina Lorenzi,
Claudia Romeo,
Federico Scali,
Lucia Scuri,
Giorgio Bontempi,
Maria Nobile,
Luigi Bertocchi,
Giovanni Loris Alborali,
Adriana Ianieri,
Sergio Ghidini
Affiliations
Francesca Fusi
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia-Romagna, Via Antonio Bianchi 9, 25124 Brescia, Italy
Camilla Allegri
Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of Milan, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy
Alessandra Gregori
Department of Veterinary and Food Safety of Animal Origin, Agenzia di Tutela della Salute (ATS) di Brescia, Viale Duca degli Abruzzi 15, 25124 Brescia, Italy
Claudio Monaci
Department of Veterinary and Food Safety of Animal Origin, Agenzia di Tutela della Salute (ATS) di Brescia, Viale Duca degli Abruzzi 15, 25124 Brescia, Italy
Sara Gabriele
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia-Romagna, Via Antonio Bianchi 9, 25124 Brescia, Italy
Tiziano Bernardo
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia-Romagna, Via Antonio Bianchi 9, 25124 Brescia, Italy
Valentina Lorenzi
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia-Romagna, Via Antonio Bianchi 9, 25124 Brescia, Italy
Claudia Romeo
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia-Romagna, Via Antonio Bianchi 9, 25124 Brescia, Italy
Federico Scali
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia-Romagna, Via Antonio Bianchi 9, 25124 Brescia, Italy
Lucia Scuri
Department of Food and Drug, Parma University, Via del Taglio 10, 43126 Parma, Italy
Giorgio Bontempi
Department of Economics and Management, University of Brescia, Via S. Faustino, 74b, 25122 Brescia, Italy
Maria Nobile
Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of Milan, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy
Luigi Bertocchi
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia-Romagna, Via Antonio Bianchi 9, 25124 Brescia, Italy
Giovanni Loris Alborali
Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell’Emilia-Romagna, Via Antonio Bianchi 9, 25124 Brescia, Italy
Adriana Ianieri
Department of Food and Drug, Parma University, Via del Taglio 10, 43126 Parma, Italy
Sergio Ghidini
Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of Milan, Via dell’Università 6, 26900 Lodi, Italy
On-farm emergency slaughter (OFES) is employed when cattle are unfit for transport but still suitable for human consumption, thereby ensuring animal welfare and reducing food waste. This study analysed OFES patterns in Northern Italy, where a large cattle population is housed but information on the practice is rarely analysed. A total of 12,052 OFES cases from 2021 to 2023 were analysed. Most involved female cattle (94%) from dairy farms (79%). Locomotor disorders were the leading reason (70%), particularly trauma and fractures, followed by recumbency (13%) and calving-related issues (10%). Post-mortem findings showed limbs and joints as the most frequent condemnation sites (36%), often linked to trauma. A significant reduction in OFES cases occurred over time, mainly due to fewer recumbency and calving issues, likely reflecting stricter eligibility criteria introduced in 2022. Weekly variations, with peaks on Mondays and lows on Saturdays, suggest that logistical constraints may sometimes influence OFES promptness. These findings suggest that on-farm management and animal handling could be improved further to reduce welfare risks and carcass waste. Due to the lack of standardised data collection and regulatory harmonisation, a multi-country investigation could improve our understanding of this topic and inform best practice.
