Welfare of small ruminants during transport

Abstract

In the framework of its Farm to Fork Strategy, the Commission is undertaking a comprehensive evaluation of animal welfare legislation. The present Opinion deals with the protection of small ruminants (sheep and goats) during transport. The main focus is on welfare of sheep during transport by road but other means of transport and concerns for welfare of goats during transport are also covered. Current practices related to transport of sheep during the different stages (preparation, loading and unloading, transit and journey breaks) are described. Overall, 11 welfare consequences were identified as being highly relevant for the welfare of sheep during transport based on severity, duration and frequency of occurrence: group stress, handling stress, heat stress, injuries, motion stress, predation stress, prolonged hunger, prolonged thirst, restriction of movement, resting problems and sensory overstimulation. These welfare consequences and their animal-based measures are described. A wide variety of hazards, mainly relating to inappropriate or aggressive handling of animals, structural deficiencies of vehicles and facilities, unfavourable microclimatic and environmental conditions and poor husbandry practices, leading to these welfare consequences were identified. The Opinion contains general and specific conclusions in relation to the different stages of transport. Recommendations to prevent hazards and to correct or mitigate welfare consequences have been developed. Recommendations were also developed to define quantitative thresholds for microclimatic conditions within the means of transport and spatial thresholds (minimum space allowance). The development of welfare consequences over time were assessed in relation to maximum journey time. The Opinion covers specific animal transport scenarios identified by the European Commission relating to the export of sheep by livestock vessels, export of sheep by road, roll-on-roll-off vessels and 'special health status animals', and lists welfare concerns associated with these.

Keywords: Farm to Fork Strategy; animal welfare assessment; animal‐based measures; goats; hazards; quantitative thresholds; sheep; small ruminants; transport; welfare consequences.

Figure 1

Fetal growth curve of lambs (data from from Pillai et al., 2017)

Figure 2

Schematic drawing showing the three planes of vibratory movements animals are exposed to during transport by road. Adapted from the guidelines on transport of livestock from Humane Slaughter Association, 2022

Figure 3

Schematic representation of thermal zones as a function of the environmental temperature (Adapted from EFSA, 2004)

1. LCT/A: Lower critical temperature (LCT), UCT/D: Upper critical temperature; B: Lower limit of thermal comfort zone; C: Upper limit of thermal comfort zone.

Figure 4

Predominant patterns of air flow (white arrows) in a moving passively ventilated vehicle. Red areas indicate where air heated by the animals accumulates and blue areas show colder spots

Figure 5

Loss of balance events per hour per compartment recorded by sheep category (indicated by different colours) at different space allowances expressed as k‐value during a 6‐h journey (data from Jones et al., 2010)

Figure 6

Slip rates recorded by sheep category at different space allowances expressed as k‐value during a 6‐h journey (data from Jones et al., 2010)

Figure 7

Plasma levels of ACTH (left) and cortisol (right) in sheep in normal husbandry conditions (orange lines) and during a 9‐h journey (blue lines) (data from Zhang et al., 2020)

Figure 8

Heart rate (bpm) of sheep during a seven and a half hour journey (Zhang et al., 2020)

Figure 9

Cortisol in blood plasma during a commercial journey of 31 h in fleeced (■) and shorn lambs (□) (Parrott et al., 1998)

Figure 10

Covariate adjusted means of liveweight (kg) lost in lambs during commercial transport without access to feed or water (Knowles et al., 1996)

1. Based on a combination of different treatments, the authors were able to sample the animals at t = 0 (from more than 500 lambs), and after 15 h of continuous transport and again after 24 h of transport (from 60 lambs each). The broken line refers to a treatment involving a break, and is not relevant here. The study continued focusing on resting periods, but these data are not shown here.

Figure 11

Relationship between fasting time (FAST) in hour and β‐hydroxybutyrate concentration in plasma from blood collected by venopuncture (dotted line) and exsanguination (continuous line) (Warriss et al., 1989)

Figure 12

Covariate adjusted means of plasma concentration of NEFA and β‐hydroxybutyrate in lambs during commercial transport without access to feed or water (Knowles et al., 1996)

1. Based on a combination of different treatments, the authors were able to sample the animals at t = 0 (from more than 500 lambs), and after 15 h of continuous transport and again after 24 h of transport (from 60 lambs each). The broken lines refer to a treatment involving a break, and is not relevant here. The study continued focusing on resting periods, but these data are not shown here.

Figure 13

Covariate adjusted means of total protein, albumin and osmolality in lambs during commercial transport without access to feed or water (Knowles et al., 1996)

1. Based on a combination of different treatments, the authors were able to sample the animals at t = 0 (from more than 500 lambs), and after 15 h of continuous transport and again after 24 h of transport (from 60 lambs each). The broken lines refer to a treatment involving a break, and are not relevant here. The study continued focusing on resting periods post the 24‐h transport. These data are not shown.