Effect of Calf Diseases on Mortality during Transport for Slaughter

Veãerek V. , V. ·ímová, M. Malena, E. Vosláfiová, M. Malena j r . : Effect of Calf Diseases on Mortality during Transport for Slaughter. Acta Vet. Brno 2006, 75: 625-630. 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. Transport stress, welfare, emergency slaughter, standard slaughter, journey distance Animal health is one of the factors affecting the standard of animal welfare. Welfare during transport of animals for slaughter is influenced by transport stress, and significant transport stress can result even in the death of the animal. Thus, the number of animals that died in connection with their transport for slaughter can be an indicator of the welfare during transport. Diseases of animals decrease animal welfare during their transport for slaughter. Therefore diseases can influence the mortality rate of animals during their transport for slaughter. From the viewpoint of animal species and categories these problems are of particular importance in calves, because diseased calves represent a significant part of calves transported for slaughter. Stress of calves increases during their transport for slaughter. Conditions influencing the level of stress are as follows: regrouping, handling during loading, driving performance, air quality in the vehicle, transport time, handling during unloading, lairage time. Grigor et al. (2001) investigated the effects of space allowance on the physiological, and behavioural response of calves during transport. Van de Water et al. (2003), studying the effect of transport on the physiology of calves, states also the effect of the position of calves on the truck. Steinhardt (2003) studied the effect of transport stress in cattle and intensified ACTA VET. BRNO 2006, 75: 625–630; doi:10.2754/avb200675040625 Address for correspondence: Prof. MVDr. Vladimír Veãerek, CSc. University of Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Palackého 1-3 612 42 Brno, Czech Republic Tel.: +420 541 562 770 Fax: +420 541 562 790 e-mail: vecerekv@vfu.cz http://www.vfu.cz/acta-vet/actavet.htm human animal contact on the reactions of animals exposed to transport process. Lensink et al. (2000) monitored the influence of gentle contacts performed by stockpersons on the welfare of calves. Lensink et al. (2001a) studied behavioural reaction of calves, having previous experience with humans, during transport. Influence of the farmers’ behaviour on the calves’ reactions to transport was investigated by Lensink et al. (2001b). Steinhardt and Thielscher (2000, 2003, 2005a) focused on the reaction of dairy calves exposed to transport stress, namely from the viewpoint of rearing conditions, husbandry systems, and different breeds. Fazio and Ferlazzo (2003) evaluated stress during transport. Transport stress of calves causes, in particular changes of ethological indicators (Broom 2003), physiological variables (Steinhardt and Thielscher 2000), haematological variables (Steinhardt and Thielscher 2005a,b), biochemical, metabolic and hormonal variables (Steinhardt and Thielscher 2002, 2003). In their study, Odore et al. (2004) documented the effect of transportation on blood hormone levels and lymphocyte glucocorticoid and beta-adrenergic receptor concentrations in calves. Deteriorated transport conditions may lead to animal damage. Pi‰tûková et al. (2004) referred to the occurrence of immobile cattle resulting from inadequate handling during transport for slaughter. Mechanical damage of animals during transport and the development of processes due to transport stress of cattle can project to the veterinary decision-making on meat edibility and can increase occurrence of unfit meat due to its deviation from sensory properties as being referred to by Veãerek et al. (2003). Better transport conditions can decrease stress of calves during transport for slaughter and, as a consequence, improve indicators of veal meat quality, as referred to by Lensink et al. (2000, 2001b) and Van de Water et al. (2003). The aim of our study was to assess the total effect of diseases on the calf mortality rate during transport for slaughter, to determine the effect of diseases on the calf mortality rate depending upon distance and, furthermore, to determine the development tendency of the effect of diseases on the calf mortality rate during transport for slaughter. Materials and Methods The effect of calf diseases on their mortality rate during transport for slaughter was monitored within the period 1997 2004. Inspectors of the State Veterinary Administration of the Czech Republic recorded the number of healthy calves transported for standard slaughter and the number of calves that died in connection with this transport, i.e. the number of calves that died directly in a transport vehicle or at slaughterhouse after transport. Furthermore, they recorded the number of diseased calves transported for emergency slaughter and the number of calves that died in connection with this transport. The effect of calf diseases on the mortality rate during transport for slaughter was monitored by comparing calf death frequency during transport for standard slaughter and calf death frequency during transport for emergency slaughter. An index was calculated as a ratio of the relative frequency of calf deaths during transport for emergency slaughter to the relative frequency of calf deaths during transport for standard slaughter. The effect of calf diseases on the calf mortality rate during transport for slaughter in connection with the journey distance was monitored by comparing calf death frequency during transport for standard slaughter and calf death frequency during transport for emergency slaughter for the following journey distances: up to 50 km, 51 km to 100 km, 101 km to 200 km, 201 km to 300 km, over 300 km. For the individual journey distances an index was calculated as a ratio of the relative frequency of calf deaths during transport for emergency slaughter to the relative frequency of calf deaths during transport for standard slaughter. The development tendency of the effect of calf diseases on their mortality rate during transport for slaughter was determined on the basis of the comparison of total frequencies of calf deaths during transport for standard slaughter and total frequencies of calf deaths during transport for emergency slaughter in the particular years of the period monitored. For the individual years an index was calculated as a ratio of the relative frequency of calf deaths during transport for emergency slaughter to the relative frequency of calf deaths during transport for standard slaughter. From index values for individual years the development tendency concerning the effect of calf diseases on the calf mortality rate during transport for slaughter was derived. An index value higher than 1.00 indicates the effect of calf diseases on the mortality rate during transport for slaughter, the value 1.00 indicates a state when calf diseases have no effect on the mortality rate during transport 626

Animal health is one of the factors affecting the standard of animal welfare.Welfare during transport of animals for slaughter is influenced by transport stress, and significant transport stress can result even in the death of the animal.Thus, the number of animals that died in connection with their transport for slaughter can be an indicator of the welfare during transport.Diseases of animals decrease animal welfare during their transport for slaughter.Therefore diseases can influence the mortality rate of animals during their transport for slaughter.From the viewpoint of animal species and categories these problems are of particular importance in calves, because diseased calves represent a significant part of calves transported for slaughter.
Stress of calves increases during their transport for slaughter.Conditions influencing the level of stress are as follows: regrouping, handling during loading, driving performance, air quality in the vehicle, transport time, handling during unloading, lairage time.Grigor et al. (2001) investigated the effects of space allowance on the physiological, and behavioural response of calves during transport.Van de Water et al. (2003), studying the effect of transport on the physiology of calves, states also the effect of the position of calves on the truck.Steinhardt (2003) studied the effect of transport stress in cattle and intensified human -animal contact on the reactions of animals exposed to transport process.Lensink et al. (2000) monitored the influence of gentle contacts performed by stockpersons on the welfare of calves.Lensink et al. (2001a) studied behavioural reaction of calves, having previous experience with humans, during transport.Influence of the farmers' behaviour on the calves' reactions to transport was investigated by Lensink et al. (2001b).Steinhardt and Thielscher (2000, 2003, 2005a) focused on the reaction of dairy calves exposed to transport stress, namely from the viewpoint of rearing conditions, husbandry systems, and different breeds.Fazio and Ferlazzo (2003) evaluated stress during transport.Transport stress of calves causes, in particular changes of ethological indicators (Broom 2003), physiological variables (Steinhardt and Thielscher 2000), haematological variables (Steinhardt and Thielscher 2005a,b), biochemical, metabolic and hormonal variables (Steinhardt andThielscher 2002, 2003).In their study, Odore et al. (2004) documented the effect of transportation on blood hormone levels and lymphocyte glucocorticoid and beta-adrenergic receptor concentrations in calves.
Deteriorated transport conditions may lead to animal damage.Pi‰tûková et al. ( 2004) referred to the occurrence of immobile cattle resulting from inadequate handling during transport for slaughter.Mechanical damage of animals during transport and the development of processes due to transport stress of cattle can project to the veterinary decision-making on meat edibility and can increase occurrence of unfit meat due to its deviation from sensory properties as being referred to by Veãerek et al. (2003).Better transport conditions can decrease stress of calves during transport for slaughter and, as a consequence, improve indicators of veal meat quality, as referred to by Lensink et al. (2000Lensink et al. ( , 2001b) ) and Van de Water et al. (2003).
The aim of our study was to assess the total effect of diseases on the calf mortality rate during transport for slaughter, to determine the effect of diseases on the calf mortality rate depending upon distance and, furthermore, to determine the development tendency of the effect of diseases on the calf mortality rate during transport for slaughter.

Materials and Methods
The effect of calf diseases on their mortality rate during transport for slaughter was monitored within the period 1997 -2004.Inspectors of the State Veterinary Administration of the Czech Republic recorded the number of healthy calves transported for standard slaughter and the number of calves that died in connection with this transport, i.e. the number of calves that died directly in a transport vehicle or at slaughterhouse after transport.Furthermore, they recorded the number of diseased calves transported for emergency slaughter and the number of calves that died in connection with this transport.
The effect of calf diseases on the mortality rate during transport for slaughter was monitored by comparing calf death frequency during transport for standard slaughter and calf death frequency during transport for emergency slaughter.An index was calculated as a ratio of the relative frequency of calf deaths during transport for emergency slaughter to the relative frequency of calf deaths during transport for standard slaughter.
The effect of calf diseases on the calf mortality rate during transport for slaughter in connection with the journey distance was monitored by comparing calf death frequency during transport for standard slaughter and calf death frequency during transport for emergency slaughter for the following journey distances: up to 50 km, 51 km to 100 km, 101 km to 200 km, 201 km to 300 km, over 300 km.For the individual journey distances an index was calculated as a ratio of the relative frequency of calf deaths during transport for emergency slaughter to the relative frequency of calf deaths during transport for standard slaughter.
The development tendency of the effect of calf diseases on their mortality rate during transport for slaughter was determined on the basis of the comparison of total frequencies of calf deaths during transport for standard slaughter and total frequencies of calf deaths during transport for emergency slaughter in the particular years of the period monitored.For the individual years an index was calculated as a ratio of the relative frequency of calf deaths during transport for emergency slaughter to the relative frequency of calf deaths during transport for standard slaughter.From index values for individual years the development tendency concerning the effect of calf diseases on the calf mortality rate during transport for slaughter was derived.
An index value higher than 1.00 indicates the effect of calf diseases on the mortality rate during transport for slaughter, the value 1.00 indicates a state when calf diseases have no effect on the mortality rate during transport for slaughter, and a value lower than 1.00 indicates a state when calf diseases have no effect on the mortality rate during transport for slaughter.
Results of absolute and relative frequencies were processed by the computer software Excel using a statistical computing module.The statistical processing was performed by χ 2 -test using the computer program Unistat 5.1.

Results
The effect of calf diseases on the mortality rate during transport for slaughter was monitored on the basis of the comparison of the frequencies of calf deaths during transport for standard slaughter and frequencies of calf deaths during transport for emergency slaughter as stated in Table 1.
It follows from Table 1 that, in calves, a death rate for the whole period was, in connection with transport for standard slaughter, 0.026% and, in connection with transport for emergency slaughter, 3.266%.Thus, in numbers of calf deaths connected with transport, there is a basic difference between transport of healthy calves for standard slaughter and transport of diseased calves for emergency slaughter.The latter is considerably higher, namely expressed in the form of the ratio index 127.4.Thus, due to diseases, the total number of calf deaths during transport for slaughter significantly increased (p < 0.01).
For the particular journey distances the effect of calf diseases on the mortality rate during transport for slaughter was monitored on the basis of the comparison of the calf death frequency during transport for standard slaughter and calf death frequency during transport for emergency slaughter, as presented in Table 2.
It follows from Table 2 that the effect of the journey distance on calf deaths in connection with transport for standard slaughter was manifested as follows: in case of the journey distance up to 50 km the recorded mortality rate was 0.019% and, in case of the longer journey distance up to 200 km the recorded mortality rate was markedly higher, namely up to 0.110%.Generally, the following effect of journey distance on calf deaths in connection with transport for emergency slaughter was found: in the journey distance up to 50 km the recorded mortality rate was 3.029%, in the longer journey distance up to 200 km the recorded mortality rate was considerably higher, namely up to 5.177%.Thus, in case of journey distances up to 200 km, there is a basic difference in numbers of calf deaths in connection with transport, namely between transport of healthy calves for standard slaughter and transport of diseased calves for emergency slaughter, when number of calf deaths during transport for emergency slaughter is considerably higher, namely expressed by the index 162.6 for the journey distance up to 50 km, by the index 176.3for the journey distance 51 km up to 100 km, and by the index 47.0 for the journey distance 101 km up to 200 km.Thus, for all journey distances up to 200 km, the number of calf deaths during transport for slaughter was statistically highly significantly (p < 0.01) increased due to diseases of calves.
Transport of calves for standard slaughter exceeding the distance of 200 km is not usual.Such transport is realized under conditions when deaths occur only rarely.Transport of calves for emergency slaughter exceeding the distance of 200 km is done sporadically and no deaths were recorded during such transport.
The development tendency of the calf disease effect on the mortality rate of calves during transport for slaughter was determined using a comparison of total calf death frequencies during transport for standard slaughter and total calf death frequencies during transport for emergency slaughter in particular years of the period monitored.This tendency is shown in Table 3.
It follows from Table 3 that an index expressing a ratio of total frequencies of calf deaths during transport for standard slaughter to total frequencies of calf deaths during transport for emergency slaughter in particular years of the monitored period varied from 68.9 to 321.8, excepting year 2004, when the index value amounted to 0.0.Index values did not show a long-term tendency of increase or decrease depending on particular years of the period monitored.The considerable effect of calf diseases on the calf mortality rate in connection with their transport for slaughter was found in all years of the monitored period, excepting year 2004.In 2004 no calf death occured during transport for emergency slaughter which is connected with a legislative amendment.Since 2004 the legislation has not allowed the transport of a diseased animal from a farm to the slaughterhouse, provided that the health state of the animal can result in suffering during transport.

Table 1 .
Total number of calf deaths in connection with transport for standard and emergency slaughter

Table 2 .
Number of calf deaths in connection with transport for standard and emergency slaughter depending on the journey distance