Immobility of pigs is a reason for emergency slaughter. The goal of this project was to determine the proportion of emergency slaughters due to immobility in pigs. In a selected pig slaughter facility, emergency slaughters were monitored in the period between 1997 and 2002 and the numbers of pigs slaughtered due to immobility reasons were monitored. The conclusion was that the proportion of sows slaughtered due to immobility reasons is high (31.3%) in comparison to other pigs (9.7%) and this difference was found to be statistically significant (P < 0.01). The objective of the project was also to determine the causes of immobility in emergency slaughtered pigs. Veterinary carcass, meat and organs inspections revealed that locomotor apparatus diseases (pelvic injuries, spinal contusion injuries or injuries of limbs, hind limb paresis, limb injuries, joint and claw inflammations) were more frequent causes of emergency slaughters due to immobility in pigs than general and other conditions (cachexia and gastrointestinal tract disorders, ataxia, tetany, circulation disorders including heart insufficiency, post-delivery complications, selection and others). In sows, the number of immobile animals with the diagnosis of locomotor apparatus diseases was high (90.0%) in comparison to the general condition and other disease diagnoses (10.0%); the difference was found to be statistically significant (P < 0.01). In other pigs, the number of immobile animals with the locomotor apparatus disease diagnosis was particularly high (96.4%) in comparison to the general condition and other disease diagnoses (3.6%); the difference was found to be statistically significant (P < 0.01). The results evidence that in sows as well as in other pigs, immobility necessitating emergency slaughters is due to unsuitable handling resulting in injuries and pareses of the locomotor apparatus rather than insufficient care leading to general conditions and other diseases.

372 sera of cervids from the Czech Republic were examined for antibodies to the bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) and border disease virus (BDV) by competitive-inhibition enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and for the presence of the BVDV by AgELISA. Antibodies to BVDV/BDV were found in 0.6% (two positive/305 tested) red deer (Cervus elaphus). BVDV/BDV antibodies were not found in four sika deer (Cervus nippon) and 63 fallow deer (Dama dama). All serum samples were BVDV antigen negative. Our results confirmed that red deer in the Czech Republic are only rarely infected with Pestiviruses. This was the first survey of pestiviruses in farmed and wild cervids in the Czech Republic.

Emergency slaughter is a slaughter of an animal intended for slaughter which is either sick, injured, or suspected of being sick. These animals are slaughtered either in slaughterhouses intended for this purpose, or in special departments of slaughterhouses intended for this purpose, or in premises commonly used for slaughter but slaughter is carried out separately with regard to time. Causes of emergency slaughters of pigs may serve as indicators of health status of pigs on farms and during transportation. Causes of emergency slaughters may serve as indicators of health status of pigs on farms and during transportation. Reasons to carry out emergency slaughter indicate the load on different age groups of pigs on farm and during transportation and may be evaluated in order to propose changes necessary for improvement of health status in pigs. Causes of emergency slaughters are specified on the basis of findings during the inspection of meat and organs after slaughter. Kofer et al. (2001) emphasised the importance of evaluation of the findings obtained during meat inspection at slaughterhouses. Berns et al. (1997) also confirmed the importance of the data obtained from carcass inspection at slaughterhouses. The control activities consist of inspection, palpation, evaluation of cuts in carcasses and organs of slaughter animals and laboratory examinations of [1997][1998][1999]. Musculoskeletal diseases were the most frequently found condition (42.39%) with stable figures in the long term (index 1.00). Neither any significant increase nor decrease in the occurrence of this type of diseases were found. Furthermore there was also high occurrence of the diseases of miscellaneous aetiology (29.51%), accounting in particular for the disease of the heart, liver and kidneys. There was a slightly increasing trend in this category of diseases (index 1.16), which was confirmed to be highly significant. The occurrence of respiratory diseases was also high (21.21%), showing the trend of slight decrease (index 0.88), which was nevertheless highly significant. The cases of emergency slaughter were reflected in the total number of condemnations in porcine carcasses (27.56%). This figure showed long-term increase (index 1.19), which was confirmed to be highly significant. It can be concluded that appropriate measures are necessary for the improvement of health status of pigs and reduction of numbers of emergency slaughters. Such measures should be in particular aimed at prevention of musculoskeletal diseases.