Effect of Calf Diseases on Mortality during Transport for Slaughter

The aim of this study was to determine the general effect of calf diseases on the mortality rate in connection with a journey distance and, furthermore, to determine the tendency of development in this field. During the period of 1997 - 2004 inspectors of the State Veterinary Administration in the Czech Republic recorded the number of healthy calves transported for standard slaughter and numbers of calves that died in connection with this transport; furthermore, they recorded numbers of diseased calves transported for emergency slaughter and numbers of calves that died in connection with this transport. The calf mortality rate in connection with transport for standard slaughter and in connection with transport for emergency slaughter was 0.026% (29/113144) and 3.266% (2260/69207), respectively. The mortality rate during transport for emergency slaughter is considerably higher, an expression in the form of a ratio index is 127.4. The total number of calf deaths during transport for slaughter significantly increased ( p < 0.01) due to calf diseases. The effect of the journey distance on calf mortality in connection with transport was manifested as follows: during transport up to 50 km the recorded mortality rate was 0.019% for standard slaughter and 3.029% for an emergency one. In case of a longer journey distance, up to 200 km, a higher mortality rate was detected, namely 0.110% for standard slaughter and 5.177% for an emergency one. Due to diseases the number of calf deaths during transport up to 50, 100 and 200 km significantly increased ( p < 0.01). A long-term tendency concerning increase or decrease of calf disease effect on the mortality rate in calves during transport for slaughter depending on individual years of the period monitored was not proved. Calf disease significantly decreases calf welfare during their transport for slaughter and considerably increases number of calves that died in connection with transport for slaughter.