Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-s2hrs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-13T02:59:49.306Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Shrink and mortality of beef cattle during long distance transportation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2023

B Teke
B Teke*
Affiliation:
Department of Animal Breeding and Husbandry, Ondokuz Mayis University, Veterinary Faculty, 55200 Atakum, Samsun, Turkey; email: bulentteke@gmail.com
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

The aims of this study were to determine the effects of long distance transport on shrink and mortality rate in cattle, and to understand the relationships between environmental temperature, bodyweight, shrink and dressing percentage. This survey was conducted on 121 transfers of bulls (Bos taurus) from commercial finishing units in Bugyi, Hungary to a public slaughterhouse in Ankara, Turkey between July and December 2010. A total of 3,874 bulls were transported and the journeys took approximately 30 h, including a 2-h rest period with water and feed available. In order to investigate the effect of thermal stress, the deviation of the average monthly ambient temperature from average six-monthly temperature was determined (d-value). Weight loss during transport and dressing percentage were determined monthly. The effect of month on shrink during transport was significant and average transport shrink was 5.57% during the six months. In general, the highest shrink rate was observed in the summer (August: 8.39%) and winter months (December: 7.27%), both of which are outside the thermoneutral zone for beef cattle. The lowest shrink rate was observed in the autumn months (October: 2.99%, November: 1.77%), which is within the thermoneutral zone. The mortality rate was 0.464% during transportations. Mortality rate was high but the effect of month on mortality rate was not significant. There was a moderate positive correlation between transport shrink and d-value. In conclusion, transportations within thermal comfort zone range and good quality animal handling are recommended in order to prevent the adverse effects of long distance transportation, such as shrink and mortality.

Keywords

animal welfarecattledressing percentageroad transportthermal stressweight loss
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 22 , Issue 3 , August 2013 , pp. 379 - 384
Copyright
© 2013 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

References

Addis, D and George, C 1969 Minimizing stress in feedloss replacements. Ninth California Feeders Day. University of California: Davis, USAGoogle Scholar
Arthington, JD, Eicher, SD, Kunkle, WE and Martin, FG 2003 Effect of transportation and commingling on the acute-phase protein response, growth, and feed intake of newly weaned beef calves. Journal of Animal Science 81: 1120–1125CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Barnes, K, Smith, S and Lalman, D 2007 Managing shrink and weighing conditions in beef cattle. Fact sheet F-3257. Oklahoma State University Cooperative Extension Service. pods.dasnr.ok state.edu/docushare/dsweb/Get/Document-30/F-3257pod.pdfGoogle Scholar
Bitman, J, Lefcourt, A, Wood, DL and Stroud, B 1984 Circadian and ultradian temperature rhythms of lactating dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 67: 1014–1023. http://dx.doi.org/10.3168/jds.S0022-0302(84)81400-9CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Blecha, F, Boyles, SL and Riley, JG 1984 Shipping suppresses lymphocyte blastogenic responses in Angus and Brahman x Angus feeder calves. Journal of Animal Science 59: 576–583CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Bryan, M, Schwartzkopf-Genswein, KS, Crowe, T, González, L and Kastelic, J 2010 Effect of cattle liner microclimate on core body temperature and shrink in market-weight heifers transported during summer months. Journal of Animal Science 88(ES2): 20–21Google Scholar
Camp, TH, Stevens, DG, Stermer, RA and Anthony, JP 1981 Transit factors affecting shrink, shipping fever and subsequent performance of feeder calves. Journal of Animal Science 52: 1219–1224CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Coffey, KP, Brazle, FK and Higgins, JJ 1997 Effects of gathering time on weight and shrink of steers grazing smooth bromegrass pastures. The Professional Animal Scientist 13: 170–175CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Coffey, KP, Coblentz, WK, Humphry, JB and Brazle, FK 2001 Review: basic principles and economics of transportation shrink in beef cattle. The Professional Animal Scientist 17: 247–255CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Embry, LB, Reveli, RE, Luther, RM and Graber, CR 1968 Chlorotetracycline and sulfamethazine supplementation of calves during feedlot adaptation. AS Series. South Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station: South Dakota, USAGoogle Scholar
European Commission 2006 Commission working document on a community action plan on the protection and welfare of animals 2006-2010. http://europa.eu.int/comm/food/animal/welfare/work_doc_strategic_basis230106_en.pdfGoogle Scholar
Gallo, C, Espinoza, MA and Gasic, J 2001 Efectos del transporte por camion durante 26 horas con y sin periodo de descanso sobre el peso vivo y algunos aspectos de calidad de carne en bovinos. Archivos de Medicina Veterinaria 33: 43–53. [Title translation: Effects of 36 h road transport with or without a resting period on live weight and various aspects of meat quality in cattle]. http://dx.doi.org/10.4067/S0301-732X2001000100005CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gallo, C, Lizondo, G and Knowles, TG 2003 Effects of journey and lairage time on steers transported to slaughter in Chile. Veterinary Record 152: 361–364. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/vr.152.12.361CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
González, LA, Schwartzkopf-Genswein, KS, Bryan, M, Silasi, R and Brown, F 2012 Relationships between transport conditions and welfare outcomes during commercial long haul transport of cattle in North America. Journal of Animal Science 90: 3640–3651. http://dx.doi.org/10.2527/jas.2011-4796CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Grandin, T 1997 Assessment of stress during handling and transport. Journal of Animal Science 75: 249–257CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Grandin, T 2000 Livestock Handling and Transport, Second Edition. CAB International: Wallingford, UK. http://dx.doi.org/10.1079/9780851994093.0000CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Grandin, T 2001 Perspectives on transportation issues: the importance of having physically fit cattle and pigs. Journal of Animal Science 79: E201–E207CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gregory, NG 2007 Animal Welfare and Meat Production, Second Edition. CAB International: Wallingford, UKCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hale, WH, Taylor, B, Theurer, B and Essig, H 1967 Methods of starting new feeder steers. Arizona Cattle Feeders Day. University of Arizona: Tucson, AZ, USAGoogle Scholar
Harman, BR, Brinkman, MH, Hoffman, MP and Self, HL 1989 Factors affecting in-transit shrink and liver abscesses in fed steers. Journal of Animal Science 67: 311–317CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Henning, PA 1993 Transportation of animals by road for slaughter in South Africa. Proceeding of the 4th International Symposium on Livestock Environmental pp 536–541. 6-9 July 1993, University of Warwick, Coventry, UKGoogle Scholar
Hutcheson, DP and Cole, NA 1986 Management of transit-stress syndrome in cattle: nutritional and environmental effects. Journal of Animal Science 62: 555–560CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kenny, FJ and Tarrant, PV 1987 The reaction of young bulls to short-haul road transport. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 17: 209–227. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0168-1591(87)90147-XCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Knowles, TG 1999 A review of the road transport of cattle. Veterinary Record 144: 197–201. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/vr.144.8.197CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Knowles, TG, Warriss, PD, Brown, SN and Edwards, JE 1999 Effects on cattle of transportation by road for up to 31 hours. Veterinary Record 145: 575–582. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/vr.145.20.575CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lambooy, E and Hulsegge, B 1988 Long-distance transport of pregnant heifers by truck. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 20: 249–258. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0168-1591(88)90050-0CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Malena, M, Voslarova, E, Tomanova, P, Lepkova, R, Bedanova, I and Vecerek, V 2006 Influence of travel distance and the season upon transport-induced mortality in fattened cattle. Acta Veterinaria Brno 75: 619–624. http://dx.doi.org/10.2754/avb200675040619CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Malena, M, Voslarova, E, Kozak, A, Belobradek, P, Bedanova, I, Steinhauser, L and Vecerek, V 2007 Comparison of mortality rates in different categories of pigs and cattle during transport for slaughter. Acta Veterinaria Brno 76: 109–116. http://dx.doi.org/10.2754/avb200776S8S109CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mayes, HF, Asplund, JM and Anderson, ME 1979 Transport stress effects on shrinkage. ASAE American Society of Agricultural Engineers Paper No 79: 6512Google Scholar
McDowell, RE 1972 Improvement of Livestock Production in Warm Climates pp 410–449. Freeman: San Francisco, USAGoogle Scholar
Murata, H, Takahashi, H and Matsumoto, H 1987 The effects of road transportation on peripheral blood lymphocyte subpopulations, lymphocyte blastogenesis and neutrophil function in calves. British Veterinary Journal 143: 166–174. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0007-1935(87)90008-XCrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) 2010 Internet weather source. http://weather.noaa.gov/Google Scholar
Philips, WA, Juniewicz, PE and von Tungeln, DL 1991 The effect of fasting, transit plus fasting, and administration of adrenocorti-cotropic hormone on the source and amount of weight lost by feeder steers of different ages. Journal of Animal Science 69: 2342–2348CrossRefGoogle Scholar
SAS Institute Inc 2009 SAS 9.1.3. SAS: Cary, NC, USAGoogle Scholar
Schwartzkopf-Genswein, KS, Booth, ME, McAllister, TA, Mears, GJ, Schaefer, AL and Cook, NJ 2006 Effects of pre-haul management and transport distance on beef cattle performance and welfare. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 108: 12–30. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2006.11.012CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Self, HL and Gay, N 1972 Shrink during shipment of feeder cattle. Journal of Animal Science 35: 489–494CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Shorthose, WR 1965 Weight losses in cattle prior to slaughter. CSIRO, Food Preservation Quarterly 25: 67–73Google Scholar
Tarrant, PV, Kenny, FJ, Harrington, D and Murphy, M 1992 Long distance transportation of steers to slaughter: effect of stocking density on physiology, behaviour and carcass quality. Livestock Production Science 30: 223–238CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Villarroel, M, Maria, GA, Sanudo, C, Garcia-Belenguer, S, Chacon, G and Gebresenbet, G 2003 Effect of commercial transport in Spain on cattle welfare and meat quality. Deutsch Tierarztliche Wochenschrift 110: 105–107Google ScholarPubMed
Warriss, PD 1990 The handling of cattle pre-slaughter and its effect on carcass meat quality. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 28: 171–186. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0168-1591(90)90052-FCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Warriss, PD, Brown, SN, Knowles, TG, Kestin, SC, Edwards, JE, Dolan, SK and Philips, AJ 1995 Effects on cattle of transport by road for up to 15 hours. Veterinary Record 136: 319–323. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/vr.136.13.319CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Wikner, I, Gebresenbet, G and Tolo, E 2003 Dynamic performances of cattle transporting vehicle on Scandinavian roads and behavioural response of animals. Deutsch Tierarztliche Wochenschrift 110: 114–120Google ScholarPubMed
Wythes, JR, Arthur, R, Thompson, P, Williams, G and Bond, J 1981 Effect of transporting cows various distances on live weight, carcase traits and muscle pH. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture and Animal Husbandry 21: 557–561. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/EA9810557CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Young, BA 1981 Cold stress as it affects animal production. Journal of Animal Science 52: 154–163CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed