Anim Sci J. 2016 Sep 4. doi: 10.1111/asj.12692. [Epub ahead of print]
- 1Department of Animal Protection, Welfare
and Behaviour, Faculty of Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of
Veterinary and Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic.
- 2Department
of Veterinary Public Health and Forensic Medicine, Faculty of
Veterinary Hygiene and Ecology, University of Veterinary and
Pharmaceutical Sciences Brno, Brno, Czech Republic.
- 3Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Polo Universitario dell'Annunziata, Messina, Italy.
Abstract
Overall
mortality among turkeys transported for slaughter in the Czech Republic
from 2009 to 2014 was 0.147%. The lowest mortality (0.023%) was found
in turkeys transported for distances up to 50 km; longer distances were
associated with increasing death rates, with the highest losses (0.543%)
recorded for distances from 201 to 300 km. Differences were also found
when comparing transport-related mortality rates according to the season
of the year. The highest mortality (0.228%) was associated with
transports carried out in summer, whereas the lowest death rates were
found in turkeys transported for slaughter in winter (0.105%) and autumn
(0.113%). According to the ambient temperatures in which transports
associated with the highest death rates among turkeys were carried out
(14 to 21°C), it appears that heat stress can be a major factor in the
birds' mortality. However, low ambient temperatures (i.e. below -2°C)
also appear to increase transport-related mortality, as shown by our
results. In addition to shortening the lengths of transport distances,
appropriate consideration of prevailing climatic conditions and the
sensitivity of turkeys to high and low temperatures during transport may
also lead to a reduction in the number of turkeys dying during
transport for slaughter.
© 2016 Japanese Society of Animal Science.
KEYWORDS:
distance; season; transport; turkey; welfare
