Clean Cattle: 10 Key Messages
Friday 24 January 2003
The 10 key messages unveiled at the launch of the Clean Cattle and Meat Safety initiative
1. Livestock may carry harmful bacteria
Bacteria live on coats and in the digestive tracts and faeces of healthy animals.
2. The Clean Livestock Policy has improved cattle cleanliness
The Policy has resulted in an improvement in the visible cleanliness of animals being slaughtered.
3. Dirty cattle cost money
Whether through rejected animals or slower line speeds at slaughter; and damaged hides due to dung or careless clipping.
4. Pre-slaughter diet needs consideration
Attention to feed prior to slaughter can firm up or reduce the animals' faeces, helping to reduce faecal contamination of the hide.
5. Providing adequate bedding improves cattle cleanliness
Checking bedding on farm, during transport and in lairage at abattoir helps keep cattle clean.
6. Clipping can remove visible dirt
But it is the last resort as clipping can be stressful for the animal and may damage hide and cause injury to operator.
7. Wet cattle are a significant hazard
Wet cattle get dirty more easily and wet coats mean more mobile bacteria.
8. Transport factors can affect cattle cleanliness
Journey time, lorry design and number of animals transported, all impact on the cleanliness of cattle being delivered to slaughter.
9. Mixing unfamiliar animals increases cross-contamination
Unlike familiar animals, unfamiliar cattle will frequently rub against each other, spreading faecal contamination between animals.
10.Bacteria survive well in livestock environments
The farm, the transport, the market and the holding areas should be kept as clean as possible.
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