Combined effects of transport distance and season on rabbit mortality during pre-slaughter transport

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F62157124%3A16270%2F25%3A43882743" target="_blank" >RIV/62157124:16270/25:43882743 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://actavet.vfu.cz/94/4/0329/" target="_blank" >https://actavet.vfu.cz/94/4/0329/</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.2754/avb202594040329" target="_blank" >10.2754/avb202594040329</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

Combined effects of transport distance and season on rabbit mortality during pre-slaughter transport

Original language description

Transport of rabbits from farms to slaughterhouses represents an essential component of intensive rabbit production. Mortality during transport serves as an important indicator of animal welfare and transport conditions. This study evaluated the effects of transport distance (&lt;= 50 km, 51-100 km, 101-200 km, 201-300 km, &gt; 300 km), season (spring, summer, autumn, winter), and their interaction on rabbit mortality during transport to slaughterhouses in the Czech Republic from 2017 to 2023. In total, 1,806,815 transported rabbits were assessed. Across all seasons, most rabbits were transported over &lt;= 50 km, and the fewest over 51-100 km. Mortality was significantly higher in spring and autumn, while the lowest mortality occurred in winter. The mortality rate generally increased with transport distance, except for the shortest journeys (&lt;= 50 km), where mortality was higher than for distances between 51 and 300 km. A significant interaction was observed between season and transport distance, with the highest mortality rate (0.556%) recorded during spring transports exceeding 300 km. These findings demonstrate a clear synergistic effect of season and transport distance on rabbit mortality. The results underscore the need to refine species-specific transport requirements and to consider both journey characteristics and seasonal risk when shaping animal welfare policy and commercial transport practices.

Czech name

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Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

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OECD FORD branch

40301 - Veterinary science

Project

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Continuities

I - Institucionalni podpora na dlouhodoby koncepcni rozvoj vyzkumne organizace

Publication year

2025

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

Acta veterinaria Brno

ISSN

0001-7213

e-ISSN

1801-7576

Volume of the periodical

94

Issue of the periodical within the volume

4

Country of publishing house

CZ - CZECH REPUBLIC

Number of pages

8

Pages from-to

329-336

UT code for WoS article

001651916000008

EID of the result in the Scopus database

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