B.FLT.1022 - Effect of short duration lairage on ante-mortem inspection, carcass characteristics, and microbiological status of feedlot cattle during winter conditions
Did you know that short lairage, where animals are processed on the day of receival can increase hot standard carcase weight, reduce the incidence of dark cutting and increase cold carcase weight?
| Project start date: | 01 June 2023 |
| Project end date: | 30 December 2025 |
| Publication date: | 12 December 2025 |
| Project status: | Completed |
| Livestock species: | Grain-fed Cattle |
| Relevant regions: | National |
|
Download Report
|
|
Summary
This project measured the impact of short duration lairage (<5 hours) compared with normal duration lairage (>18 hours) on hot standard carcase weight (HSCW), carcase characteristics and microbiological status of 4,632 feedlot cattle in winter conditions across three market categories (domestic, short-fed export and long-fed export).
Objectives
The objective of the study was to determine the effect of short duration lairage on ante-mortem inspection, carcase characteristics and microbiological status (hide and carcase) of feedlot cattle during winter conditions.
Key findings
Cattle in the short lairage groups had 2.62kg (P<0.001), 4.64kg (P<0.001) and 1.66kg (P=0.044) heavier HSCWs in the domestic, short-fed export and long-fed export market categories, respectively.
Cattle in the short lairage groups had 2.39kg (P<0.001) and 4.78kg (P<0.001) heavier cold carcase weights (CCW) in the domestic and short-fed export market categories, respectively.
Cattle in the short lairage groups had 0.3% and 0% dark cutting carcasses compared with 1.2% and 2.32% dark cutting carcases in the normal lairage groups of the domestic and short-fed export market categories, respectively.
Microbiological swabs for Salmonella spp., E. coli, coliform and total viable count (TVC) were under the industry thresholds for reporting for both short and normal lairage groups.
The economic analysis indicated that the adoption of short duration lairage practices led to higher gross revenue between $13.65/hd and $44.95/hd across the three market categories investigated.
Benefits to industry
This project showed that short duration lairage in winter offered a significant benefit in production efficiency and profitability across the supply chain by enabling optimal carcase weights and a reduction in the incidences of dark cutting. In addition, concerns around food safety associated with short duration lairage during winter conditions have been alleviated. Economic analysis, taking feed costs and dark cutting carcase penalties into consideration, revealed potential gains of $13.65/hd, $44.95/hd and $20.37/hd across the three market categories investigated.
MLA action
MLA will continue to develop communications and extension materials to support adoption of short lairage throughout the supply chain.
Future research
The key recommendation of this study is that time of feed withdrawal before death should be minimised for all grainfed cattle (time between feedlot pen and knocking box). Future work should focus on the effects of lairage duration on grassfed cattle and sheep. Current curfew and trucking guidelines for sheep and cattle should be reviewed. Research should continue on ways to clean the cutting lines on the hides of cattle post-mortem to assist with the desire to minimise washing ante-mortem.
More information
| Project manager: | Matt Van der Saag |
| Contact email: | Reports@mla.com.au |
| Primary researcher: | The University of New England |
