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The objective of this study was to determine if there is an association between facial hair whorl patterns on the bovine forehead and sperm morphology. Breeding soundness exams were conducted on 219 yearling bulls at three Colorado State University facilities. There were 150 Angus bulls and the remaining bulls were of several different breeds. Hair whorl patterns on the forehead were classified as round or nonround epicenters. Angus bulls with round epicenters had a higher percentage of morphologically normal spermatozoa compared to nonround epicenters (P < 0.05). Hair whorls on Angus bulls were sorted into two extreme groups of round spirals, with rotation or long lines that were longer than the width of the eyes. Bulls with round spirals had a greater percentage of normal spermatozoa compared to bulls with long lines (P < 0.05). Hair whorl pattern on Angus bulls also had an effect on the percentage of bulls that had the minimum threshold value of 70% normal spermatozoa. Eighty percent of Angus bulls with round epicenters had > 70% or more normal spermatozoa compared to 59% with a nonround epicenter (P < 0.01). Fifty percent of Angus bulls with long lines failed because they had < 70% normal spermatozoa. There were no significant differences in the remaining non-Angus bulls. Hair whorl patterns may be useful for making early culling decisions.

Objective: To evaluate efficacy of penetrating captive bolt stunning of cattle in commercial beef slaughter plants and identify potential causes of a return to sensibility among stunned cattle., Design: Observational study., Sample Population: 21 federally inspected commercial beef slaughter plants., Procedure: In each plant, stunning of at least 100 cattle (19 large plants) or a minimum of 1 hour of production (2 small plants) was observed, and cattle were evaluated for signs of returning to sensibility on the bleed rail. Cattle with a limp, flaccid head, a lack of spontaneous blinking, and an absence of a righting reflex were considered insensible., Results: In 17 of the 21 (81%) plants, all cattle were rendered insensible before they were hoisted onto the bleed rail. The remaining 4 plants had cattle that had signs of returning to sensibility; these cattle were restunned prior to skinning or leg removal. Of 1,826 fed steers and heifers, 3 (0.16%) had signs of returning to sensibility, whereas 8 of 692 (1.2%) bulls and cows did. Return-to-sensibility problems were attributed to storage of stunner cartridges in damp locations, poor maintenance of firing pins, inexperience of the stunner operator (ie, shooting cattle too high on the forehead), misfiring of the stunner because of a dirty trigger, and stunning of cattle with thick, heavy skulls., Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Results suggest that efficiency of captive bolt stunning of cattle in commercial slaughter plants can be safely and objectively assessed. Care should be taken to maintain stunners correctly, particularly when stunning bulls and cows with heavy skulls.