Is transportation for farm animals as comfortable as human transportation?

 A brief review by Gede Sanjaya

Photo by Chook City

Introduction

Transport of animals is increasing steadily in recent decades, both in national and international levels, in relation to structural adjustment, specialization of production systems, internationalization and globalization of marketing system. Now a day there were many comments about animal transport that needs more attentions to fulfill transport facilities in national and international levels based on the wittiness of scientific research works, workshops and seminars¹.

Transportation is a very complex event which compromises animal welfare and meat quality. Even though important research works have been reported related to animal transport and welfare, many questions are still remaining to be addressed, particularly on the effect of transport time where animals are exposed to different stress inducing factors such as vibration, physical fatigue, injury, noise, high temperature and relative humidity. Just as humans, animals feel pain, uncomforted and suffering during poor way of handling and transport¹ .

What actually happened?

The handling, loading, transporting and unloading of animals can have very substantial effects on their welfare. The welfare of an individual is its state as regards its attempts to cope with its environment and includes both the extent of failure to cope and the ease or difficulty in coping². The general concerns related to animal transport can be summarized in three points: (1) transport can cause severe stress in animals entailing poor welfare and higher mortality. (2) stressful transport may have a negative effect on meat quality. (3) there is the risk of spread of infectious diseases among the animals over long distances on a transport vehicle³.

When animals are stressed, the heart rate increases from its resting condition to its peak value and decreased up to its recovery level. If the animals adapted to the new condition and recovered, the heart rate decreased to the level of resting condition, if not adapted, animals remain under stress condition showed the level of stress fully or moderately stressful condition¹.

Photo by Tree of Compassion

According to Compassion in World Farming ; calves, cattle, sheep, pigs and other animals are routinely transported by road and sea, for days or even weeks, and may suffer:

• Overcrowding - Animals are crammed into vehicles where they may not even have room to lie down. They can be injured or even trampled to death.
• Exhaustion, hunger and dehydration - During these long journeys animals may suffer extremes of temperature, often without sufficient rest, food or water.
• Fear and stress - Animals are sentient beings, just like us. Imagine how you'd feel if you were taken from your familiar environment, crammed into a truck, and transported for days?
• Tragic results - In addition to routine suffering, over the years, animals have faced horrific conditions during delayed journeys, and thousands have died in fires or when livestock ships have sunk.
• An uncertain fate - In many countries animal welfare legislation is utterly inadequate, and exported animals may face terrible suffering on farms or at slaughter at their destination.

What should be done?

According to Compassion in World Farming, if animals are being farmed for food, they should be raised and slaughtered as close as possible to their place of birth. Long distance live transport should be replaced by domestic consumption or a trade in meat.

Global campaign on ban live export

In 2022, Compassion in World Farming took over Parliament Square in London, calling on the UK Government to Ban Live Exports.

Ban Live Exports International Awareness Day is a day of global action which takes place every year on 14th June. Campaigners all over the world come together - in person and online - to speak out in solidarity against this horrific practice, and to urge those in power to make it stop. Organisations and campaigners in over 40 countries – from Germany, to Australia, to South Korea – have taken part in the Awareness Day. Campaign actions have included solidarity marches through Kathmandu, a giant inflatable cow joining protests in Brazil, rallies in Parliament Square in London, and social media campaigning with a potential reach of millions of people.

References:

1. Bullita, FS. 2012. Effects of handling on animals welfare during transport. Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences. Effects of handling on animals welfare during transport - CORE

2. Broom, DM. 2003. Causes of poor welfare in large animals during transport. Vet. Res, Commun., 27, 515-518. 548Broom2003Welfarelargeanimalstransport.pdf

3. Hartung, J. 2003. Effect of Transport on Health of Farm Animals. Article in Veterinary Research Communications. (PDF) Effects of Transport on Health of Farm Animals (researchgate.net)

4. Compassion in World Farming – Ban Live Export

5. Ban Live Exports International Awareness Day – Compassion in World Farming