Transport of calves by road

Authors: Mullord M, Kilgour R
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 21, Issue 1-2, pp 7-10, Jan 1973
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Cattle, Livestock, Production animal, Ruminant
Subject Terms: Animal welfare, Behaviour, Transport
Article class: Scientific Article

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Abstract: Each year increasing numbers of livestock are transported by land, rail, sea and air, vet documented observation of the behaviour of stock during transit has seldom been recorded. The trans-shipment of weaner calves between the North and South Islands of New Zealand provided an opportunity to gather information on conditions of travel and general adaptation to a journey of 1600 kilometres by road and air. Many countries, including New Zealand (N.Z. Animal Protection: Act 1960, with amendments 1962, 1964, 1971), have regulations governing the protection of animals by which cruelty is outlawed but the Act does not deal specificallv with animals during transportation. The N.Z. Road Transport Act, up-dated in 1971, contains requirements for maximum axle weights, doubly secured trailer couplings, and the complete containment of animals within the stock crates. Some writers have discussed ideal requirements for animal transport and Van Den Berg (1968) considers that in the Netherlands rubber sheeting on the floors and weekly disinfection of stock trucks should be compulsory. The World Federation for the Protection of Animals (1964) has also produced recommendations for conditions of animal transport which deal with matters such as materials for the construction of transport crates and the strength of rope to be used to restrain heavy slaughter animals. A number of reports written by persons accompanying animals in transit by sea or air have dealt with the animals` reactions to changes in humidity, type of stock food and size of pen space per animal…

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