Animal Welfare During Livestock Transportation
Transportation is usually the most stressful part of a farm animal’s life. While being hauled in a trailer, animals are easily overwhelmed with so many new sights, sounds, and smells, when they’ve typically spent their entire lives on one farm. Climatic conditions can be another big stressor that is very hard to protect animals in a trailer from. Up to this point, I’ve discussed how humane handling on the farm is imperative for high quality meat. However, all of that can be for not if the trailer ride from the farm to the slaughterhouse is too tough on the animals.
|
Bruising and stress are more often caused by events of the trailer ride than what happens when they arrive at the processing plant. Here are some general guidelines producers should follow to minimize stressors during transport:
One thing that upsets a lot of animal welfare activists is that animals are hauled very tightly packed together. It makes sense that they’re concerned about the animals being uncomfortable or too hot, but the truth is that this is the correct way to haul animals. If only one animal was in a large compartment with a lot of room to move around, it would easily fall down, increasing risk of injury. Also, if animals were loaded a few to a compartment and had enough room to lie down, they would get stepped on. To prevent this, handlers pack animals very close together, to where they only have enough room to shift a few steps side to side, but not much else. The two exceptions to this are swine and sheep, but cattle, especially, should have somewhat restricted space. Although it may not seem like it, this really is the most humane way to haul animals.
- Flooring material should be dry and not slippery
- Swine should be fed a decreased amount or not eat at all the meal before transport—overeating can cause heart failure
- Another precaution to take when hauling swine is to keep them out of direct sunlight to avoid sunburns
- Trailers should have adequate ventilation (not solid walls)
- For extreme heat conditions, a misting system inside the trailer can regulate animals’ temperatures
- Trailers should be checked prior to loading for protrusions or sharp edges
- Pregnant mothers should not be hauled long distances (they are hardly ever taken to the slaughterhouse— that would be pointless)
- Animals should be moved and enclosed in compartments with only small groups of other animals (preferably animals they got familiar with before the trailer ride) to avoid trampling, keep them calmer, and prevent fighting
One thing that upsets a lot of animal welfare activists is that animals are hauled very tightly packed together. It makes sense that they’re concerned about the animals being uncomfortable or too hot, but the truth is that this is the correct way to haul animals. If only one animal was in a large compartment with a lot of room to move around, it would easily fall down, increasing risk of injury. Also, if animals were loaded a few to a compartment and had enough room to lie down, they would get stepped on. To prevent this, handlers pack animals very close together, to where they only have enough room to shift a few steps side to side, but not much else. The two exceptions to this are swine and sheep, but cattle, especially, should have somewhat restricted space. Although it may not seem like it, this really is the most humane way to haul animals.
The 28-hour law is a US federal mandate that says haulers “may not confine animals in a vehicle or vessel for more than 28 consecutive hours without unloading the animals for feeding, water, and rest.” When they animals are unloaded for this rest period, they must have five consecutive hours to relax with access to food, water, and space to lie down. The only time this law does not apply is if the trailer gives the animals food, fresh water, and adequate space to lie down. This law has been in place for over 100 years, but was most recently amended in 1994.
|
A similar law that’s been passed in Canada is the Health of Animals Act. This law is designed to minimize bruising, reduce the use of prods, and restrict the amount of time livestock can be on the trailer. The Health of Animals Act holds haulers liable for the livestock they are in possession of.
In August of 2016, a woman in Toronto was taken to court for giving water to pigs on a truck headed to the slaughterhouse. She was an outspoken member of animal rights groups who participated in protests. After the ordeal was caught on camera, she was put on trial and, although eventually acquitted, faced possible jail time and a fine of up to $5,000. Although she told the truck driver she was giving them water, he refused to let her in fear that it was a liquid that might make them unsafe for slaughter. Although animal welfare protesters showed up, trending the #StandWithAnita, a large number of social media comments were on the side of the truck driver.
Transport can be hard on the animals, but new designs in trailers have made it much less stressful. As we move forward in this slaughter process series, especially in the next edition which will cover unloading and holding when they arrive at the processing plant, you will see many steps taken to revitalize the animals and help them return to a calm and content state.
Once again, preventing suffering is not only the right thing to do for welfare purposes, it’s the easiest way to maximize productivity, and, thus profits.
In August of 2016, a woman in Toronto was taken to court for giving water to pigs on a truck headed to the slaughterhouse. She was an outspoken member of animal rights groups who participated in protests. After the ordeal was caught on camera, she was put on trial and, although eventually acquitted, faced possible jail time and a fine of up to $5,000. Although she told the truck driver she was giving them water, he refused to let her in fear that it was a liquid that might make them unsafe for slaughter. Although animal welfare protesters showed up, trending the #StandWithAnita, a large number of social media comments were on the side of the truck driver.
Transport can be hard on the animals, but new designs in trailers have made it much less stressful. As we move forward in this slaughter process series, especially in the next edition which will cover unloading and holding when they arrive at the processing plant, you will see many steps taken to revitalize the animals and help them return to a calm and content state.
Once again, preventing suffering is not only the right thing to do for welfare purposes, it’s the easiest way to maximize productivity, and, thus profits.