An audit of transport conditions and arrival status of slaughter cattle shipped by road at an Ontario processor

Abstract

This is an observational study to investigate slaughter cattle transportation conditions in Canada. Data collected include: length of time in transit; temperature variation; season; weather transport conditions; cattle weight; sex and whether sexes were separated on mixed loads; number of lots and whether lots were separated; cattle unloading speed; cattle handling score; trucker training and experience hauling cattle; ventilation; and condition of cattle at arrival. Information was collected on approximately 50 000 animals transported by 1363 trucks. All but 0.2% of trucks arrived within the 52 h allowable transport time before unloading required for rest, feed, and water. Most trucks (85.7%) were from within 8 h of the plant. Trucks surveyed were at or above the recommended space allowance 49% of the time. There were five non-ambulatory (unable to walk off the truck with or without assistance) or dead, 79 lame, and four animals that needed assistance of the 49 959 animals observed (0.4, 4.8 and 0.2%, respectively, of the trucks surveyed). However, these concerns were not necessarily a result of transportation, as animal health at loading was unknown. There were very few visible animal welfare concerns associated with the transportation of slaughter cattle in the population sampled. Key words: Cattle, transport, welfare, beef