Effect of Calf Diseases on Mortality during Transport for Slaughter

Večerek, Vladimír; Šímová, Veronika; Malena, M.; Voslářová, Eva

doi:10.2754/avb200675040625

Cited by 9 publications

(6 citation statements)

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“…Not only is the DOA percentage in hens and cockerels several times higher than that of other monitored poultry species and categories, but it is also higher than mortality rates reported for other species of farm animals transported for slaughter in the Czech Republic. For example, the average transport-related mortality rate per year in pigs is 0.107% (Večerek et al 2006c); in dairy cows, 0.038% (Večerek et al 2006b); in fattened cattle, 0.007% (Malena et al 2006); and in calves, 0.026% (Večerek et al 2006d). Newberry et al (1999) monitored DOA rates of hens transported for slaughter in Canada and the United States and observed that mortality ranged from 0.7% to 2.3% depending on the duration of the journey.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mortality Rates in Poultry Species and Categories during Transport for Slaughter

et al. 2007

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Voslářová E., B. Janáčková, L. Rubešová, A. Kozák, I. Bedáňová, L. Steinhauser, V. Večerek: Mortality Rates in Poultry Species and Categories during Transport for Slaughter. Acta Vet. Brno 2007, 76: S101-S108.Transport-related mortality rates were compared for various poultry species and categories where published data are limited. The numbers of broilers, hens and cockerels, turkeys, ducks, and geese transported for slaughter, and the numbers that died during such transport, were recorded from 1997 to 2006 in cooperation with the State Veterinary Administration of the Czech Republic. The mortality rate for individual poultry species and categories was calculated overall, and was also recorded for the following transport distances: up to 50 km, from 51 km to 100 km, from 101 km to 200 km, from 201 km to 300 km, and over 300 km. Transport of poultry for slaughter was accompanied by varying mortality rates depending on poultry species and categories. The highest mortality rates occurred in hens and cockerels (1.013%), followed by turkeys (0.272%), broilers (0.253%), ducks (0.103%), and geese (0.056%). Differences among the mortality rates estimated were highly significant (p < 0.001). Mortality rates highly correlated with transport distance. The lowest mortality rates were for the shortest transport distances: In broilers (0.154%), turkeys (0.164%), and hens and cockerels (0.595%) for a transport distance up to 50 km; and in ducks (0.069-0.111%) and geese (0.021 -0.053%) for transport distances up to 300 km. Highest mortality rates in hens and cockerels (1.892%), turkeys (0.341%), and broilers (0.536%) were observed for transport distances over 200 km, while in ducks (0.147%) and geese (0.253%), highest mortality rates were with transport distances exceeding 300 km. The highest mortality rates for all transport distances were in hens and cockerels, followed by turkeys and broilers. The mortality rate in turkeys for a transport distance up to 50 km was significantly higher than that in broilers. No significant differences were found between mortality rates in turkeys and broilers for transport distances of 51-100 km and 101-200 km whereas, for a distance of 201-300 km and in distances exceeding 300 km, the mortality rates in broilers were significantly higher compared to turkeys. The lowest mortality rates were observed in ducks and geese, with a significant difference between them only for transport distances of 51 to 100 km, where the mortality rate in ducks was higher, and over 300 km, where the mortality rate in geese was higher. When planning the transport of poultry for slaughter, susceptibility to stress induced by transport and transport distance (i.e. the duration of transport) of poultry species and categories should be considered.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mortality Rates in Poultry Species and Categories during Transport for Slaughter

et al. 2007

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“…Steinhardt and Thielscher (2000, 2005a dealt with the reaction of dairy calves exposed to transport stress, particularly with regard to the effect of rearing conditions, husbandry systems, and different breeds. Mortality rates in calves during transport for slaughter was studied by Večerek et al (2006c), who found a rate over an 8-year period of 0.026%. According to Lensink et al (2000Lensink et al ( , 2001b and Van de Water et al (2003), improved conditions of transport will decrease the level of stress in calves during transport for slaughter, thus improving the quality of veal.…”

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Comparison of Mortality Rates in Different Categories of Pigs and Cattle during Transport for Slaughter

et al. 2007

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Malena M., E. Voslářová, A. Kozák, P. Bělobrádek, I. Bedáňová, L. Steinhauser, V. Večerek: Comparison of Mortality Rates in Different Categories of Pigs and Cattle during Transport for Slaughter. Acta Vet. Brno 2007, 76: S109 -S116.The death of animals during transport for slaughter is a major factor indicating the level of welfare in transported animals. However, research data that report the level of animal welfare as reflected in transport-related mortality rates of individual animal species and categories are missing. The present study focused on losses of pigs and cattle in the period from 1997 to 2006. Transport-related mortality rates were recorded by species and categories of animals and also for the following travel distances: up to 50 km, 51-100 km, 101-200 km, 201-300 km, and over 300 km. Rates differed according to species and category. The highest mortality rates were found in young sows, sows, and boars (0.2562%) followed by fattened pigs (0.1075%), excluded dairy cows (0.0396%), calves (0.0269%), and fattened cattle (0.0069%). Significant differences were found among mortality rates (p < 0.05). The lowest mortality rates occurred with shorter travel distances (< 50 km and 51-100 km) when compared to long travel distances (101-200 km, 201-300 km and > 300 km), with a significant difference (p < 0.05) between short and long travel distances being found in fattened pigs, fattened cattle and dairy cows. Mortality rates in animals during transport for slaughter show young sows, sows, and boars to be the most susceptible to transport-related stress, followed by fattened pigs, dairy cows, and calves, whereas the highest resistance was observed in fattened cattle.

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“…Transportation of young animals from the farm to the processor imposes stressors that affect their biochemical, hormonal and metabolic status (Trunkfield and Broom, 1990). Longer journey distances (Cave et al, 2005;Večerek et al, 2006;Uetake et al, 2011) loading and unloading (Kent and Ewbank, 1986;Cave et al, 2005), novel human-animal contact (Lensink et al, 2001), and the inability to lie down (Uetake et al, 2011) have all been shown to negatively affect calf health and welfare and increase mortality.…”

Section: Travel Timementioning

confidence: 99%

Risk factors for bobby calf mortality across the New Zealand dairy supply chain

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et al. 2020

Preventive Veterinary Medicine

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A B S T R A C TThe objective of this study was to identify risk factors for morbidity and mortality of bobby calves across the whole dairy supply chain in New Zealand. A case-control study was carried out in the 2016 spring calving season. A total of 194 bobby calves, comprising 38 cases (calves that died or were condemned for health or welfare reasons before the point of slaughter) and 156 controls (calves deemed acceptable and presented for slaughter) were included in the study. Case and control calves were selected by veterinarians located at 29 processing premises across New Zealand. Information regarding management of selected calves on-farm, during transport and at the processor was obtained retrospectively via questionnaires administered to supplying farmers, transport operators and processing premises personnel. Associations between management variables and calf mortality (death or condemnation) were examined using multivariable logistic regression models. Factors associated with an increased risk of calf mortality included time in the farm of origin's calving season, duration of travel from farm to the processor and processing slaughter schedule (same day or next day). Every additional week into the farm's calving season increased the odds of mortality by a factor of 1.2 (95%CI 1.06, 1.35). Similarly, each additional hour of travel time increased the odds of mortality by a factor of 1.45 (95% CI 1.18, 1.76). Risk of mortality was significantly greater for calves processed at premises with a next day slaughter schedule than those processed at premises with a same day slaughter schedule (OR 3.82, 95% CI 1.51, 9.67). However, when the data set was limited to those cases that died or were condemned in the yards (i.e. excluding calves that were dead or condemned on arrival) the effect of same day slaughter was not significant. In order to reduce bobby calf mortality and morbidity, transport duration should be kept as short as possible and a same day slaughter schedule applied. While these factors can be regulated, New Zealand's pastoral dairy system means that calves will inevitably be transported for slaughter across several months each spring. Although farm management factors did not apparently influence the risk of mortality in this study, the effect of time in farm's calving season suggests there may be farm-management related factors that change over the season. This requires further investigation.

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Effect of Calf Diseases on Mortality during Transport for Slaughter

Cited by 9 publications

References 6 publications

Mortality Rates in Poultry Species and Categories during Transport for Slaughter

Mortality Rates in Poultry Species and Categories during Transport for Slaughter

Comparison of Mortality Rates in Different Categories of Pigs and Cattle during Transport for Slaughter

Risk factors for bobby calf mortality across the New Zealand dairy supply chain

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