General Principles of Improvement of Animal Welfare in Transport

Animal transport involves multiple risk factors such as stress, injury, fatigue, and disease. The following general principles summarize the approaches to improving welfare across all stages of transport.

a. Ensure Fitness of Animals for Transport

• Only transport animals that are healthy and strong enough to withstand travel.
• Exclude animals that are sick, injured, heavily pregnant, or too young.
• Conduct pre-transport health checks to prevent welfare risks.

b. Provide Adequate Feeding and Watering

• Animals must be given sufficient feed and water before transport.
• For long journeys, ensure water availability and rest breaks during transit.
• Fasting should be minimized, except in species where short fasting reduces welfare risks (e.g., poultry, pigs).

c. Proper Handling and Loading Practices

• Handle animals calmly, using low-stress techniques.
• Avoid shouting, beating, or using electric prods.
• Provide safe loading ramps with gentle slopes and non-slip surfaces.
• Group animals by size, age, and species to reduce aggression.

d. Vehicle Design and Comfort

• Vehicles should be well-ventilated to prevent heat or cold stress.
• Flooring must be non-slip and cushioned with bedding if necessary.
• Allow adequate space allowance for animals to maintain posture and balance.
• Use partitions to separate different groups and reduce overcrowding.

e. Minimize Journey Stress

• Plan shortest and smoothest routes to reduce travel time.
• Drive carefully: avoid sudden braking, sharp turns, or over-speeding.
• Schedule rest, feed, and water breaks during long journeys (>8 hours).
• Monitor temperature and humidity during transit.

f. Safe Unloading and Post-Transport Care

• Unload animals gently, avoiding rushing or overcrowding.
• Provide immediate access to feed, water, and rest at the destination.
• Observe animals for injuries, fatigue, or illness, and provide treatment if needed.
• Allow recovery time to reduce stress before further handling or slaughter.

g. Training and Human Responsibility

• Drivers, handlers, and stockmen must be trained in animal behaviour and welfare standards.
• Awareness of stress indicators helps handlers respond quickly.
• Ethical responsibility ensures animals are treated humanely throughout the journey.

h. Compliance with Legal and Welfare Standards

• Adhere to national and international animal transport laws.
• Respect maximum journey times, stocking densities, and species-specific requirements.
• Good compliance improves animal welfare and strengthens public confidence and trade opportunities.