Preparation and Response to Truck Accidents on Highways Involving Cattle

Abstract

Annually, in the United States, more than 50 million head of cattle are transported. Most are transported via semitrailer. As the number of livestock transported via motor vehicles has increased, so has the number of accidents involving livestock transport. Most livestock transport accidents in the United States involved semitrailers carrying cattle. Before the Bovine Emergency Response Program, no standard operating procedures existed for accidents involving livestock transport in the United States. The Bovine Emergency Response Plan provides a framework for veterinarians, emergency responders, and law enforcement to better address accidents involving cattle transport.

Keywords: Accidents; Cattle transportation; Emergency response; Humane euthanasia; Standard operating procedures.