Influence of travel distance and the season upon transport-induced mortality in fattened cattle

• Published in: Acta veterinaria Brno Vol. 75; no. 4; pp. 619 - 624
• Main Authors: Malena, M, Voslarova, E, Tomanova, P, Lepkova, R, Bedanova, I, Vecerek, V
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.12.2006
• Subjects: ANIMAL WELFARE; BIEN-ETRE ANIMAL; BIENESTAR ANIMAL; BOVIN; CATTLE; DURACION; DURATION; DUREE; ENVIRONMENTAL TEMPERATURE; ESTRES; ETE; GANADO BOVINO; HIVER; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_1391; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_2412; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_24894; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_2598; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_32612; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_443; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_4945; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_7452; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_7519; http://www.fao.org/aos/agrovoc#c_8410; INVIERNO; MORTALIDAD; MORTALITE; MORTALITY; SEASONAL VARIATION; STRESS; SUMMER; TEMPERATURA AMBIENTAL; TEMPERATURE AMBIANTE; TRANSPORT D'ANIMAUX; TRANSPORT OF ANIMALS; TRANSPORTE DE ANIMALES; VARIACION ESTACIONAL; VARIATION SAISONNIERE; VERANO; WINTER
• ISSN: 0001-7213; 1801-7576
• DOI: 10.2754/avb200675040619

The objective of this work was to quantify the mortality of fattened cattle transported to slaughter facilities in relation to the travel distance and season. Data evaluated were collected by Czech veterinary inspectors between the years 1997 and 2004. The mortality rate was 0.007%+/-0.003%. It varied significantly according to the travel distance and season. It averaged 0.004% for travels not exceeding 50 km and 0.024% for travels over 300 km. In general, the highest mortality rates were observed in July and August as well as in January and February. There was a correlation (r=0.68) between the mortality rate and temperature. Our results show that the increasing travel distance and the transport of cattle in summer or winter months resulted in an increase in transport-induced mortality rates.