Slaughterhouse condemnations for hind leg disease in cattle

Hindlimb condemnations occurred in 0-11 per cent (194/173,580) of all cattle at a large Scottish slaughterhouse over a 22-month period. Cows and bulls were more frequently involved than steers or heifers. Gross pathology, studied in 42 cattle (21 per cent of the total condemned), revealed osteoarthritis of the stifle and hip respectively in 19 and 16 cases. The traumatic lesions included meniscal damage, anterior and other ligamentous rupture. The UK loss from such condemnation is estimated at over pounds200,000 in January 1977.