FACTORS AFFECTING THE MORTALITY OF LAMBS IN TRANSIT TO OR IN LAIRAGE AT A SLAUGHTERHOUSE, AND REASONS FOR CARCASS CONDEMNATIONS

The computerised records of all the lambs slaughtered at one plant fro m August 1991 to July 1992 were used to determine the mortality rate t hroughout the year and to examine the variables that could have been a ssociated with changes in the mortality rate. The plant processed 3.3 per cent of all the lambs that were slaughtered in the United Kingdom during the period. Lambs arriving for slaughter from a livestock aucti on were over four times more likely to die in lairage, or to have died during transport, than lambs which were sent directly from the farm. However, the overall mortality rate was only 0.0182 per cent and lower than that for other species for which figures were available. Changes in the mortality rate of the lambs from livestock auctions appeared t o be associated with the price of slaughter lambs, and periods of incr eased mortality coincided with increased rates of carcase condemnation s due to 'arthritis', 'abscess' and 'pleurisy'.