Mortalities in bobby calves associated with long distance transport

Objective To investigate how distance of transportation and time of year affects mortality of bobby calves. Method The overall mortality of bobby calves transported by road to an abattoir in Northern Victoria was investigated by the analysis of mortality data from 1998 to 2000 from the abattoir records. Results Mortality of bobby calves increased exponentially with distance of transportation to the abattoir. The association between distance travelled and mortality was greatest in August. The increased mortality associated with greater distance travelled occurred during transportation rather than after arrival at the abattoir. The highest mortality of bobby calves was seen in October, followed by September, and the lowest was observed in August. Conclusion Limits on the distance of transportation of bobby calves should be incorporated into future codes of practice to reduce the mortality of bobby calves.