EU: At least 20,000 cattle that are not fit for transport are fit for consumption

At least 20,000 cattle that are not fit for transport are fit for consumption each year. Due to a lack of disposal options, a large proportion of these animals are euthanized. Alternatives to dispose of these cattle are lacking or are not permitted. This has an impact on the job satisfaction of livestock farmers and regularly causes tension among veterinarians. This emerged at the symposium on cattle that are not fit for transport at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Utrecht. Tension in decision-making Determining whether an animal is fit for transport is often a grey area. If the official veterinarian at the slaughterhouse is of the opinion that the cow is not fit for transport, high fines often follow for the farmer and the transporter. In addition, veterinarians regularly experience tension when they inspect cattle for emergency slaughter, because legislation and regulations, animal welfare and economic interests conflict with each other. If an animal is brought to the ...