The rearing of large numbers of broiler chickens at geographically dispersed sites means that they have to be transported by road, over various distances, to centralized processing plants for slaughter. The birds may be exposed to a variety of stressors during transit, including the thermal demands of the transport microenvironment. The thermal environments experienced by broiler chickens during routine transport in the U.K. on a large number of commercial vehicles under a wide range of external climatic conditions have been characterized using three-dimensional thermal mapping (temperature and water vapor density). Inadequate ventilation results in heterogeneous distributions of temperature and humidity and, thus, thermal loads within the vehicle, and, therefore, the existence of a "thermal core" in which the risk of heat stress is increased. Relationships between specific physiological indices of stress and quantified thermal loads have been determined in accurate transport simulations in the laboratory. The findings have been employed to establish a predictive model of the induction of heat stress during commercial transportation, as well as to define the acceptable ranges and limits for temperature and humidity within the transport containers. These principles have been utilized in developing a monitoring system to warn of impending heat stress and in improving vehicle design to facilitate the prevention of heat stress during broiler transportation.

. 2010. Temperature gradients in trailers and changes in broiler rectal and core body temperature during winter transportation in Saskatchewan. Can. J. Anim. Sci. 90: 321Á330. Temperature conditions inside commercial trailers transporting market-age broilers during four winter journeys were measured, and changes in the rectal and core body temperature of birds were quantified. Pre-selected modules were equipped with data loggers recording temperature every 72 s. Rectal temperatures were taken from eight birds in each of four modules immediately before and after each trip, and two or three birds, with temperature recording implants, were placed in each of two selected modules. Temperature heterogeneity was found among modules on all loads with average crate temperatures ranging from 10.9 to 30.7, 8.9 to 28.1, 2.5 to 26.1 and (0.7 to 16.58C for transportation times of 191, 193, 178 and 18 min and ambient temperatures of (7.1, (27.1, (28.2 and (18.48C, respectively. Wet birds, condensation and frost provided evidence for moisture accumulation during transportation. Body temperature recordings indicated the potential for the development of both hypothermia and hyperthermia, showing that cold stress can occur near air inlets and heat stress in poorly ventilated areas. Passive ventilation inside trailers resulted in crate temperatures 17.7 to 55.28C above outside temperature. Mortality ranged from 0.7 to 1.4% but several deaths occurred during lairage, prior to processing. A heterogeneous distribution of airflow resulted in undesirable temperate and humidity conditions for some birds.

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This study has identified evidence of poor welfare in horses being transported long distances to slaughter, including severe lameness and injuries, and a high level of noncompliance with Council Regulation (EC) no. 1/2005 on the Protection of Animals during Transport.

Commercial broiler chickens killed in two processing plants, one in the south of England, the other in Scotland, in two seasons (winter and summer) and on two occasions in each season, were used to investigate the effects of killing the birds immediately on arrival or holding them in lairage for one, two, three or four hours. The two most important consequences of holding the birds in lairage were that their body temperature increased and their liver glycogen was depleted. The body temperature increased with the time they were held in lairage, although most of the increase occurred in the first hour and the increase was greater in summer when ambient temperatures were higher. Liver glycogen depletion became apparent after about one to two hours in lairage. No evidence was obtained that the birds were significantly dehydrated or physically stressed by being kept longer in lairage.

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