Lung and pleural lesions of veal calves at slaughter and their relationship with carcass weight |
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| Authors: | J. van der Mei T. S. G. M. van den Ingh |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Institute for Animal Production ‘Schoonoord’ , P.O. Box 501, Zeist, 3700 AM, The Netherlands;2. Department of Veterinary Pathology , State University of Utrecht , Yalelaan 1, Utrecht, 3508 TD, The Netherlands |
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| Abstract: | Summary At slaughter the lungs of 2138 veal calves (13 transport groups, mainly from different farms) were examined. Lung and pleural lesions were classified by degree of extension and pathomorphological features, and the accompanying carcass weights were measured. Seventeen percent of the calves had extensive lung lesions, extensive pleural lesions or both, and their mean carcass weight was reduced by 4.3 kg (p<0.05). The percentage of calves with extensive lesions varied between transport groups from 4% to 33%. All pleural lesions were adhesive. Most lung lesions (93%) were classified as cuffing/exudative pneumonia. Slaughterhouse inspection of lungs can be used as a non‐clinical parameter of respiratory disease in veal calves. |
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