Animal Transportation

Animal Welfare - Transportation

Animal Spacing Requirements During Transport

Transport loading densities depend on a number of factors including, but not limited to, animal size, body condition, presence of horns and weather conditions. Animals should be provided with enough floor space in the vehicle to maintain their balance and change position within the compartment and they must be able to stand in a normal posture without coming into contact with the roof or the upper deck of the vehicle (the amount of headroom also depends on the animal species). During transport, animals require sufficient floor space to allow for adequate ventilation and a reasonable level of comfort.

* Consideration is given to the size and type of animal, number in the group loaded, construction of the trailer or container and useable floor space
* Large animals can be loaded safely at higher loading densities than small animals of the same species based on weight per unit area of floor space and area per animal|
* Some animals, such as cattle and horses, are transported standing, while others, such as deer, swine and poultry are transported lying down. Lower loading densities are used for animals that are transported lying down.
* In hot humid weather animals require more ventilation during transport to prevent dangerous levels of heat buildup. During hot weather the loading density is decreased.

Physical features of animals such as horns or wool can affect safe loading densities. Animal handlers evaluate recommended loading densities in light of these characteristics*

General Requirements for the Transport of Animals

To help protect animals during transport, the transporter’s requirements include:
– Having the knowledge, skills and training to transport the specific species
– Having contingency plans in place to manage unforeseen delays or circumstances
– Assessing animals for fitness before transport
– Isolating animals that are incompatible with each other
– Monitoring animals and risk factors during transport
– Using loading and unloading ramps and equipment that can bear the weight of the animals, equipped with adequate side rails and a surface that is designed, constructed and maintained to prevent the animals from slipping
– Using containers and transport vehicles designed, constructed and maintained for the animals being transported
– Using appropriate handling aids (for example, sorting boards) that do not excite the animal, cause injury or suffering
– Providing adequate space and headroom for animals to be in a natural position and to be able to reposition themselves for balance and safety during transport

Transporting in Cold and Hot Weather

In BC, anyone involved in handling or transporting animals must take appropriate measures to protect animals from extreme temperatures and to ensure that no part of the journey is likely to cause suffering, injury or death.

During the winter months, extra measures are taken to help protect every animal from the cold temperature and elements. These can include:

– Adjusting the load density
– Providing additional bedding or insulation
– Increasing weather protection for animals on vehicles
– Monitoring weather conditions closely and adjusting protection accordingly

When the weather is hot and humid, extra measures are taken to protect every animal from potential suffering, injury, or death that would be caused by, or made worse by, inadequate ventilation and weather conditions. Special attention is given to pigs and poultry because they do not have sweat glands and are therefore very sensitive to heat stress. These extra measures may include:

– Delaying loading and transport during extremely hot periods
– Reducing loading density
– Having contingency plans for events that can occur such as a traffic jam, mechanical breakdown, or accident
– Always providing sufficient ventilation, including when the vehicle is stopped
– Monitoring weather conditions closely and adjusting ventilation accordingly
– Parking vehicles containing animals in the shade when it is necessary to stop

Fitness to Transport

Producers in BC care about the animals they raise, and these high standards of animal welfare are maintained as the animals are assessed for transport from the farm. BC follows guidelines developed for deciding on the fitness of an animal to transport. All those involved in transporting animals either directly or indirectly have the responsibility to assess animals for fitness, then select, prepare and load only animals that are fit for the intended journey. There are 3 levels of assessment used: Fit, Compromised and Unfit.

Animals fit for transport:
Animals are fit for transport when there are no signs of illness or poor health. This means:

– The animals are bright, alert, moving and breathing normally
– The animals are in good body condition
– The animals are able to bear weight evenly on all limbs
– The animals are free from signs of disease

Compromised animals:
Compromised animals do not handle the stress of transportation well. They should only be transported short distances to get care, treatment, to be humanely euthanized or slaughtered. They should be separated from other animal during transport and all measures must be taken to prevent suffering and injury.

A compromised animal includes, but not limited to, the following:

– The animal has acute frostbite
– The animal is blind in both eyes
– The animal has a deformity or fully-healed amputation without signs of pain
– The animal is not fully healed after a procedure, including dehorning
– The animal has any other signs of infirmity, illness, injury or of a condition that indicates that it has reduced capacity to withstand transport

Animal Transfer of Care

To ensure continuity of care for animals in BC, no animal is to be left at an auction mart, independent holding facility, packing plant or other assembly centre without written documentation that care has been transferred between the transporter and the receiver. This is done to ensure that the individual responsible for caring for the animals can be clearly identified at all times.

Included in this documentation is the condition of the animal upon arrival, the date; time and place of the last feed, water and rest; and the date, time and place of arrival.

It is critical that animals are not left without confirming that someone is responsible for providing care for them

Unfit Animals

Animals that are unfit must not be transported except to receive veterinary care on the advice and guidance of a veterinarian. There are many conditions that results in an animal considered unfit for transport.

An unfit animal includes, but not limited to, the following:

– The animal cannot walk on its own
– The animal shows pain or suffering when it walks
– The animal is extremely thin
– The animal has signs of a fever
– The animal has a severe wound
– The animal shows any other signs of infirmity, illness, injury, or a condition that indicates that it cannot be transported without suffering