The meaning of the line i.e. "What passing-bells for these who die as cattle'' is that the soldiers are not properly honored at home. Only the death bells rang which tells the people that someone has died. The soldiers die in the battle field just like cattles slaughter in the meat factory. ''Anthem For Doomed Youth'' is a war poem written by Owen when he was recovering from shell-shock in a Scottish hospital. Owen saw the deaths of the young men and he relates it to the mass slaughter of animals.
