Even with the best care, dairy cows can become non-productive due to infertility, udder problems and/or injury. When that happens, farmers and producers make decisions to remove or “cull” these animals from the herd and determine whether to send them to slaughter. Although no longer productive members of the herd, cull cows represent a source of safe, quality beef. Like feeder cattle, cull cows must pass stringent inspection by specially trained and qualified inspection services in all our approved slaughter facilities before the meat from these animals enters the food supply chain. Ensuring that cull cows entering the food supply are not only of good quality, but that they are fit for transport, is the responsibility of everyone in the beef supply chain.
The cull cattle care sub-team of McDonald’s Global Animal Health and Welfare Team is tasked with improving the health and welfare of cull animals, including cull dairy and beef cows. We believe that by establishing guidelines and creating awareness regarding the welfare of culled cows, the health and welfare of animals entering the supply chain will be the highest in the industry. We also believe that the best mechanism to achieve this outcome is through outreach and education to farmers, ranchers and producers, while we continue to work closely with processors in our supply chain.