The behavioural and physiological reactions of farmed red deer to transport: effects of sex, group size, space allowance and vehicular motion

Opinion of the Scientific Panel on Animal Health and Welfare (AHAW) on a request from the Commission related to the welfare of animals during transport

“…These findings were attributed to reduced space allowance, since this has been already shown to affect deer behaviour when they are confined in a pen . These effects were greater in larger group size, suggesting a more pronounced behavioural disturbance when a greater number of animals were grouped together (Grigor et al, 1998a). However, with increasing transport time (up to 6 hours) time spent standing, moving and alert decreased (Grigor et al, 1998d).…”

“…Confinement on a transporter for 3 hours at different space allowances (males: 0.5m 2 or 1 m 2 /deer, females: 0.4 m 2 or 0.8 m 2 /deer) had significant effects on most physiological indicators of stress measured (plasma cortisol, NEFA, CK, sodium, osmolality and heart rate). However, these changes were short-lived, returning to pre-treatment values shortly after unloading (Grigor et al, 1998a).…”

“…Inside the transporter, regardless of different space allowances, only minor differences in mean temperatures were recorded, as well as very low ammonia concentrations (<5ml/m 3 ) (Grigor et al, 1998a). No differences in postures among treatments were recorded, but a general increase in standing and a decrease in lying were recorded during confinement or transport, particularly at the start of the journey (Grigor et al, 1998a;1998d). These findings were attributed to reduced space allowance, since this has been already shown to affect deer behaviour when they are confined in a pen .…”

Welfare issues of modern deer farming

“…Smith and Dobson, 1990;Grigor et al, 1997Grigor et al, , 1998aGrigor et al, , 1998bGrigor et al, , 1998cGrigor et al, , 1999Jago et al, 1997;Waas et al, 1997). Reviews (Matthews, 1993;Weeks, 2000;Pollard and Wilson, 2002;Bornett-Gauci et al, 2006) and scientific reports (FAWC, 2003;AHAW, 2006) on the same subjects are also available.…”

“…can be effective for welfare monitoring in domestic species and several examples of their use are available also for deer, where these parameters have been investigated either in experimental conditions or during yarding and transport (e.g. : Abeyesinghe et al, 1997;Grigor et al, 1997Grigor et al, , 1998bGrigor et al, , 1998cWaas et al, 1997). However, these parameters are more difficult to be measured in wild species that are very susceptible to stress caused by capture and handling, and this may jeopardize the reliability of the results.…”