Evaluation of multi decked transported sheep in a hot and humid tropical environment

Abstract

Unavoidable transportation as a supporting factor in meat production is a common cause of stress that may affect economic loss and welfare concerns. This study was evaluated sheep’s economic losses and physiological responses with two and three-level deck numbers. This study was used 127 heads of local Indonesian sheep, 8-10 months in age with 18-24 kg live body weight. A total of 72 heads of sheep were used for three deck levels (study 1) and 52 heads of two deck levels (study 2). All the sheep were loaded on the pick up at a 0.14 m2/head of density and transported for 22 hours without fed and water access during the journey. During the study, ambient temperature and relative humidity fluctuated between 29 and 34oC and 74 and 93%, indicating that the season was thermally stressful and unfavorable for sheep transport. The results showed that transported sheep using an open pick up for 20 hours in Indonesian conditions significantly affected physiological and blood parameters as indicator stress and inventory loss caused economic losses. It can be concluded that transported sheep into two or three levels of the deck in tropical climate had a high risk for sheep in terms of economic and animal welfare concerns.