Survey of Ocular Findings in Cattle Immediately Post Slaughter in Two UK Abattoirs.

High prevalence of ocular lesions in slaughter cattle indicates welfare concerns requiring investigation.

This prospective observational study examined ocular pathology in 356 cattle immediately post-slaughter across two UK abattoirs. A single examiner performed comprehensive ophthalmic examinations including slit lamp evaluation, indirect ophthalmoscopy, and photography on all bovine eyes. Twenty-nine percent of cattle (103/356) presented with ocular lesions affecting 142 eyes, totaling 190 lesions. Cataract was the most common finding (79 eyes), followed by corneal pathology (50 eyes), classified as active (18 eyes) or inactive (32 eyes). Additional findings included fundic lesions, anterior lens capsule pigment, hyperpigmented iris, and anterior synechiae. A striking discovery was perilimbal mid-stromal linear corneal opacities present in 96% of examined eyes across nine abattoir visits. Histopathological analysis of eight corneal samples revealed these opacities correlated with perilimbal stromal neovascularization combined with nerve fiber proliferation. The high prevalence of ocular pathology, particularly active corneal lesions and neovascularization, represents significant welfare and economic concerns in food-producing cattle, warranting investigation into causative factors and pre-slaughter conditions.

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