Introduction

• Transport facilities for farm animals are inadequate in many tropical countries.
• The owner has to use one of the five ways, namely, on the hoof, by road, by rail, or by air, or by ship.
• The ways last mentioned are used very rarely for transport of costly race horses, zoo animals, and imported of costly race purebred exotic animals etc.

Purpose

1. To reach the animals to their destination in safe and fit condition.
2. To prevent economic loss in weight.
3. To prevent mortality during transit.

Movement on foot

For cattle, buffalo, sheep and goat, driving is the most economical way of transport, at least for short distances when an adequate supply of food and water can be arranged at suitable points along the route. Animals should keep to a well-defined track because:

1. Facilities for feeding and watering will be available along such track.
2. The danger of the wandering animals spreading contagious diseases in the region through contagious diseases in the region through which they pass can be properly checked by authorities on such defined routes.

• Animals lose body weight whole moving. This loss can be reduced to the minimum by scheduling feeding and watering properly.
• Cattle can be driven for about 30 to 35 km a day and sheep for half that distance. Pigs are not moved on hoof, generally. As for as possible animals should be driven on soft ground on either side of roads, avoiding hard metalled roads.
• Transport on foot involves loss from animals losing weight, loss from death, drover’s pay, taxes tolls and extortions.

Transport by road

Transport of animals by road has the convenience of loading at the farm and direct transit to the destination. Animal should be transported by truck for a distance less than 600 to 700 km. In this method following steps are involved

1. The body of truck should cleaned with brush.
2. Good floor either of sand (10 to 12 cm. depth) or straw (15 cm.) should be provided.
3. Truck should be taken to the loading ram.
4. Open the rear door on the loading ramp and cover the gap between the door and body of truck by a plank to avoid the possible injury to the animal.
5. Lead the animal inside the truck gently pushing the animal from behind.
6. Make separate partitions for individual animal with bamboo.
7. Make sure attendant is present all the time when truck moves.
8. Instruct the driver to guard against hardship such as
9. Avoiding sudden stoppage.
10. avoiding driving fast.
11. Avoiding sharp and sudden turns.

Transport by rail

• A railway facility for animal transportation is inadequate in Nepal.
• For long distances, rail transport affords saving on maintenance and handling charges, tolls and other incidental expenses as well as from weight losses and deaths.