Broken fences and gates can bruise cattle. Metal chutes worn through by cattle can have sharp edges which will bruise shoulders. Edges with a small diameter are more likely to bruise than striking a round four-inch pipe. Rubbing against a smooth wall will not cause a bruise. One of the reasons cows have more bruises is due to a lack of fat cover.
Thin animals bruise more easily than fat animals.
Another major contributor to the increased levels of cow bruising compared to steers and heifers is increased handling on the way to market. Steers and heifers are usually brought directly from the feedlot to the plant, whereas cows and bulls usually pass through an auction market. Another major cause of both downers and bruising is bulls riding on cows in the pens at the packing plant. These bruises can be reduced by penning bulls separately from cows until they enter the single file stunning chute. Plants that have stunning boxes must train their employees to be careful with vertical slide gates.