Transport av högdräktiga nötkreatur : Hur påverkas ko och fullvuxet foster av transport

Sammanfattning: The aim of the project is to obtain a deeper understanding of how cattle in late pregnancy are affected by transportation and calving during transport or in unsuitable lairage systems at the slaughterhouse. Also, the effect on the calf, whether it is in the womb or after calving, will be investigated.   The cattle are in late pregnancy when 90% of the gestation period has passed and during that period they should not be transported. However, veterinarians at the slaughterhouses in Sweden sometimes find fully grown calves in the womb of cattle. Between 1 January 2013 and 1 March 2016 veterinarians informed the county administrative boards about 353 fully grown calves in cattle, which should not been allowed to be transported. Most of the calves probably would have survived if they were born under normal circumstances in a peaceful and safe environment.   Cattle in late pregnancy are exposed to great physical and mental stress during transportation, which leads to poor animal welfare. The stress they experience can lead to an abortion of the fetus. If calving occurs during transportation or at the slaughterhouse, there is a risk for both cow and calf to obtain serious physical and mental damage.