Final answer:
Necropsy is more commonly performed on large animals due to the increased health risks and potential economic impacts associated with their deaths. The size of the animal is less of a determining factor than the potential economic costs and health management of herds or valuable species.
Step-by-step explanation:
Necropsy, which is the examination of an animal after death, is more often performed on large animals than on small animals. The primary reason for this is not due to the greater size (a) of large animals, but rather related to the increased health risks (b) that large animals can pose.
Large animals, such as livestock, are often kept for agricultural purposes, and their health and well-being are directly tied to economic outcomes. Detecting and understanding the cause of death in these animals can be critical to managing herd health and preventing future losses.
Furthermore, large animals might be part of valuable breeding programs or have a significant role in ecological balance, thereby justifying the cost and effort of a necropsy.
While the cost (c) for performing necropsies might indeed vary with the size of the animal, it is the potential economic impact of disease outbreaks or unexplained deaths that often drive the decision to perform a necropsy on larger animals.
Alternatively, the preference of the owner (d) could also influence this decision, particularly when the animal has sentimental value or is a rare or endangered species. However, in general, it is the economic and health implications that are the most significant factors.
Correct answer: b) Increased health risks.