Mortalitätsraten beim Transport von Schlachtschweinen

Abstract

The welfare of slaughter animals during transport is influenced by exogenic (e.g. climate, duration of transport) and endogenic factors (e.g. MHS status of the transported animals). In the present study the development of animal losses during pig slaughter transports in Germany was investigated. It could be shown that the percentage of animals died during or after the transport decreased clearly between 1999 and 2003. This improvement was mainly due to the reductions of animal losses in the summer months June, July and August a season with high losses over the years. With regard to the duration of the transport it could be shown that not only long (circle divide 8h), but also very short transports (circle divide 1h) affect the welfare of the animals with increased mortalities as well as circulation problems, fractures etc. From the presented results it could be concluded that the tight regulations for animal transports as well as the decrease of homozygote MHS-positive pigs improved the animal losses during transport although in some points like minimal and maximal duration of transport and transport conditions (e.g. ventilation) further changes and regulations are necessary.