On-farm welfare and estimated daily carcass gain of slaughtered bulls

Abstract Welfare of growing bulls was evaluated using on-farm scoring modified by well-described test theory methods. Production parameters of the bulls were collected at slaughter. A positive relationship was observed between on-farm welfare, using the full A-Index score, and daily carcass gain of bulls. This association was not observed with the more consistently defined welfare using the partial A-Index with selected items. Space allowance, feeding method, ration formulation and dehorning status at group level were the most important measured factors associated with daily carcass gain of the bulls. Given this association and the cohort design of the study, it is hypothesised that there is a causative relationship between the underlying welfare concept and daily carcass gain.