Beef cattle

Each year almost 300 million cattle are reared for meat worldwide. The majority are farmed intensively in systems where they are confined, mutilated and unable to express their natural behaviours.

Feedlots

In the feedlot system, thousands of beef cattle are fattened in grassless, manure-laden outdoor enclosures. They suffer from severe respiratory diseases, digestive disorders and lameness (due to the unnatural cereal diet they are fed to maximise growth rates). In hot climates, overcrowding also leads to heat stress.

Very common in the United States and in Spain, this system is spreading to countries such as Brazil, China, India, the Philippines and Australia.

In other zero-grazing systems, beef cattle are kept indoors at high stocking densities. Harsh concrete or slatted floors put strong pressure on their feet and legs, increasing the incidence of lameness.

Calves reared for beef are often confined in dry lots - barren, muddy pens where they suffer increased disease and mortality rates.

Mutilations

Dehorning and castration are routinely practised to reduce injuries from aggressive behaviour. Often performed without anaesthetic, these procedures can cause severe pain.

Research shows that the best way to prevent injuries is not to remove horns, but to use polled (genetically hornless) cattle and to keep it in good conditions. Aggressive behaviour often results from overcrowding in barren enclosures - a basic management mistake.

To find out about another animal, click on the links in the Read More section of this page >>