Short Communication: Field observation: Pen stocking capacities for overnight lairage of finished steers and heifers at a commercial slaughter facility

The US Humane Slaughter Act requires that cattle held overnight in the lairage have sufficient space to lie down simultaneously. Cattle arriving at the slaughter plant weigh 12% more than finished cattle from the year 2000. The purpose of this observational study was to determine whether industry guidelines for space in overnight lairage are still adequate. A video camera mounted on an overhead catwalk was used to photograph Bos taurus finished...