@article{1225, keywords = {beef livestock, fattened cattle, dairy cows, feeders, calves, death loss, transport}, author = {V Simova and E Voslarova and A Passantino and I Bedanova and V Vecerek}, title = {Mortality rates in different categories of cattle during transport for slaughter}, abstract = {The death of animals during transport for slaughter is a major factor indicating the standard of welfare in transported animals. The aim of this study was to determine the mortality rate in different categories of cattle transported for slaughter in the Czech Republic in the period from 2009 to 2014. In the monitored period, in total 1 552 574 head of cattle were transported for slaughter, out of which 1935 (0.125%) died as a result of this transportation. However, highly significant (p lt; 0.01) differences were found among the transport-related mortality rates of individual categories of cattle. The highest mortality rate was found in calves (0.296%), followed by dairy cows (0.207%) and feeders (0.058%), and the lowest mortality was found in fattened cattle (0.017%). During the monitored period, the overall mortality rate of cattle transported for slaughter in the Czech Republic declined from 0.333% in 2009 to 0.030% in 201, which is a positive finding. However, when comparing the 2009–201 period (mortality rate 0.125%) with the 1997–2006 period (mortality rate 0.020%) a rising trend in the mortality of cattle transported for slaughter in the Czech Republic was observed. This tendency is disturbing, particularly considering the fact that stricter requirements for the commercial transportation of animals had come into force by means of the Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 of 22 December 2004 on the protection of animals during transport and related operations and amending Directives 6/32/EEC and 93/119/EC and Regulation (EC) No 1255/97. The results suggest that the detailed legal framework regulating animal protection during commercial transportation itself may not be a guarantee that the welfare of animals transported will reach the required standard in practice. Inadequate investment, particularly in periods of economic recessions, may lead to the increased mortality of animals during transportation despite improving legislation and functioning state supervision in the field of animal protection.}, year = {2016}, journal = {Berliner und Münchener Tierärztliche Wochenschrift}, volume = {129}, edition = {11/12}, pages = {462-467}, month = {11/2016}, publisher = {Schlütersche Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG}, address = {Hannover}, issn = {0005-9366}, doi = {10.2376/0005-9366-15106}, language = {English}, }