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T
LIVESTOCK D

Prevent Losses Caused by Bruising
of Livestock

ISSUED BY

EATON’S FARM NEWS SERVICE
WINNIPEG, CANADA

In the Report of the Veterinary Director-General for 1926, this paragraph appears:

“There does not appear to be any advancement in the method of shipping and
handling livestock, as the losses from bruises are relatively larger than the year pre-
vious. Much of this loss could undoubtedly be avoided if even reasonable care were
exercised in the driving, shipping and handling. Gross carelessness rather than ignor-
ance is the underlying cause of this unnecessary loss.”

The loss suffered by farmers and meat packers every year through careless, inade-
quate or old-fashioned methods of handling and shipping livestock is very serious and
amounts to a very large number of dollars. The worst of it is that not much general
advance is being made.

ALL THAT REMAINED OF FOUR BEEVES AFTER REMOVAL OF BRUISED PARTS

EFFECT ON EXPORT TRADE

One of the deciding factors in our ability to compete successfully in the world’s
markets for pork products will probably be the percentage of bruised product we have
to market or destroy because of its being unfit for food. Our European competitors
largely have their hogs delivered direct to the packing plants, and they are paid for
according to the way they grade, dressed. Thus a thorough check is maintained and
bruising is very slight. Our system of handling livestock from farm to market seems to
offer the maximum of opportunity to injure livestock.

1st, into the farm wagon; 2nd, on to the scales at the loading station; 3rd, placed in
holding yards; 4th, placed in cars; 5th, unloaded at stockyards into holding pens; 6th,
through the grader into the scales; 7th, placed in other holding pens; 8th, Driven to pack-
ing plants or loaded on cars to be taken there; 9th, into holding pens again; 10th, finally
to the killing floor. With all these handlings, it is quite impossible to “pin down’ the
blame for bruising and other injuries on any single individual.

Many farms are not fitted with proper loading chutes. At the loading stations weigh
scales are not always situated at the yards; this means extra handling. Unloading chutes
are not always provided, and are not always used when provided. The holding pens

[OVER