Clean Beef Cattle for slaughter: A guide for producers
Appendix 2: Cleanliness classification of cattle
The photographs in this appendix can be used to assess cattle cleanliness.
This images shows a cow with little dung/dirt visible. Very minor amounts of loosely adherent straw/bedding.
Dry animals appearing similar to, or cleaner than, the examples given below are considered to be clean enough to proceed to slaughter.
Below is a cow with Light contamination with dirt/dung Small amounts of loosely adherent straw/bedding.
Animals that are dirtier than the examples below, particularly if they are wet, are likely to require extra attention at the abattoir. If the abattoir operator has to hold animals prior to slaughter or slow the line or take other additional measures, additional costs will be incurred.
Below is a damp or dry cow showing significant contamination with dirt/dung and/or significant amounts of adherent straw/bedding.
Below is a cow which is damp, heavily contaminated with dirt/dung, heavily clagged (clegged) and with significant amounts of adherent bedding.
Below shows a cow which is clearly very wet, very heavily contaminated with dirt/dung and very heavily clagged (clegged). A lot of bedding is adherent to the coat.
