Transport Fitness of Cull Sows and Boars: A Comparison of Different Guidelines on Fitness for Transport

Grandin, Temple

doi:10.3390/ani6120077

Cited by 25 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…The European Council Regulation on animal transport [EU Regulation, EC 1/2005 ( 20 )] is, in general, precise, and objective for instance regarding loading densities or journey durations. One exception, however, is the rules on fitness for transport, which are vaguely defined and lack clear cut-off points [as reviewed by Grandin ( 21 ) for cull sows]. The EU regulation [EC 2005/1 ( 20 )] clearly states that animals must be fit for the journey in order to be transported and may not be transported in a way that will injure them or cause undue suffering.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Risk Factors for Deterioration of the Clinical Condition of Cull Dairy Cows During Transport to Slaughter

et al. 2018

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Cull dairy cows are typically transported to slaughter by road. Across different types of cattle, road transport is recognized as stressful. Cull dairy cows may have different injuries or weaknesses and may thus be more vulnerable to transport stress than other types of cattle. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the clinical condition of cull dairy cows deteriorates during transport (< 8 h), and to evaluate risk factors for potential deterioration of the clinical condition. A total of 411 dairy cows were clinically examined on farm before loading and again after unloading at the slaughter plant. The clinical examination included locomotion, presence of wounds, milk leakage, and general condition. One-fifth of the cows either became lame or more lame during transport, and there was a significant increase in the proportion of lame cows after transport (41% after vs. 31% before, P < 0.0001). A significant increase in the proportion of cows with milk leakage (17% vs. 1%, P < 0.0001) and wounds (34% after vs. 22% before, P < 0.0001) after transport were also found. Low body condition score (BCS) (< 2.75) (P = 0.001), early or late lactation [< 100 days in milk (DIM) or >300 DIM] (P = 0.01), digital dermatitis in the hind feet (P = 0.01), and pelvic asymmetry (P = 0.001) were identified as risk factors for the deterioration in lameness during transport. Early lactation (< 100 DIM) (P = 0.04) and transport distance (>100 km) (P = 0.006) were identified as risk factors for milk leakage. For wounds, no significant risk factors were found. The results demonstrate that cull dairy cows are vulnerable to the strains of transport, even journeys shorter than 8 h, to the extent that the occurrence of clinical findings were increased after transport in cows legally considered fit for transport. These results call for further research into the animal welfare implications and optimization of cattle transport.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Risk Factors for Deterioration of the Clinical Condition of Cull Dairy Cows During Transport to Slaughter

et al. 2018

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“…Cull sows have been suggested to be more vulnerable to transportation stress than other groups of swine ( Nielsen et al, 2011 ; Grandin, 2016 ) based on increased mortality upon arrival at a slaughter plant ( Lykke et al, 2007 ; Malena et al, 2007 ; Peterson et al, 2017 ). This is supported by more specific characteristics, such as increased occurrence of fatigue and lameness or very low BCS among cull sows compared with swine of market weight ( Lykke et al, 2007 ; McGee et al, 2016 ), and the fact that a considerable proportion of the cull animals are lactating at the time of transportation ( OIE, 2016 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…International pig production is characterized by increasing herd sizes and changes in the slaughter industry toward fewer and larger units and, as a consequence hereof, transportation distances from farm to slaughter are increasing (as discussed by Lambooij, 2014 ). Especially cull swine may be vulnerable to transportation stress ( Grandin, 2016 ; McGee et al, 2016 ). However, despite the large proportion of cull sows each year (500.000 sows, equal to 50% of the population, Statistics Denmark, https://www.statistikbanken.dk/ANI9 ) and the focus on the economic aspects of culling strategies ( Lucia et al 2000a , 2000b ; Engblom et al, 2007 ; Zhao et al, 2015 ), behavior, and welfare of cull sows have received almost no scientific attention.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This may seem paradoxical, as such information is highly relevant for the assessment of fitness for transportation. According to EU legislation ( Council Regulation, EC 1/2005 ) as well as industry guidelines and OIE guidelines (as reviewed by Grandin, 2016 ), sows must be fit for transportation, and obviously, ill or injured sows are not considered fit. Sows that are slightly ill or injured may, though, be considered fit for transportation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Transportation of cull sows-a descriptive study of the clinical condition of cull sows before transportation to slaughter

Fogsgaard

Herskin

Thodberg

2018

Translational Animal Science

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Each year 500.000 sows, equal to 50% of Danish sows, are culled and transported to slaughter. However, the clinical condition, behavior, and welfare of cull sows have received almost no scientific attention. The aim of the current observational study was to describe the clinical condition of cull sows on the day of transportation to slaughter, including examination of possible differences between lactating and nonlactating sows. On the day of transportation, the participating farms were visited by trained technicians who conducted a thorough clinical examination of all sows selected by the farmer for slaughter. Four sows could not be transported because they were unfit according to the European Council Regulation regarding fitness for transportation, and they were not included in the present data. A total of 522 sows, with a median parity of 5 (range: 1–11), from 12 Danish farms were included in the study. Approximately, 10% showed signs of changed gait, and 0.8% were obvious lame. Wounds were observed in 54.6% of the sows, and 11% had decubital shoulder ulcers. Almost 40% of the cull sows were lactating. At culling, the lactating sows were of higher parity than the nonlactating sows, and lactating sows were at higher risk of having deviations from normal on clinical variables related to examination of the udder, such as udder swellings and inflammations. Nonlactating sows had 3.5 times more superficial skin lesions than lactating sows. Our findings warrant for further studies exploring different aspects of the life of cull sows in what is here defined as the The Cull Period, which is the interval from the culling decision is made until the sows are slaughtered

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“…As reviewed by Grandin (2016) , regulations and recommendations on livestock fitness for transport vary in different geographical regions. According to the European Regulation (Council Regulation 1/2005), not only farmers, but also livestock drivers and their haulier can be held legally responsible for the fitness for transport of livestock.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Experiences and opinions of Danish livestock drivers transporting sows regarding fitness for transport and management choices relevant for animal welfare

Thodberg

Gould

Støier

et al. 2020

Translational Animal Science

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Including Denmark, modern pig production typically involves annual culling rates close to 50%. One important professional group in this process are livestock drivers transporting the animals to slaughter. By use of oral interviews, we aimed to describe experiences and opinions of Danish livestock drivers transporting sows, regarding fitness for transport and management choices relevant for animal welfare. All livestock drivers (N = 30) associated with a large slaughterhouse in Denmark accepting sows were approached in person, after having unloaded sows, and asked questions by an interviewer. A total of 22 livestock drivers (73%) answered all questions, constituting of a heterogeneous group of men of varying age, level of experience, time since they achieved the legally required certificate of competence, and daily involvement in sow transportation. Among livestock drivers included in the present study, doubt about fitness for transport was not uncommon, and specific reasons underlying their doubt were listed. All respondents reported to have experienced having to reject loading a cull sow who had been selected for slaughter by a herd manager, and approximately 40% did this several times a year. In contrast, almost 50% had never experienced having a sow rejected by the veterinarian at the slaughterhouse due to lack of fitness for transport. When asked about their management of sows during transportation, the majority (71%) reported using special condition transport (use of extra bedding and partitions to separate individual sows from rest of the load) less than once per month. All respondents considered hot days a problem for welfare of sows and the majority reported to adjust air intake of trucks daily or several times per week. In addition, approximately half of the respondents mentioned stationary periods (e.g., mandatory driver rests) as a challenge to sow welfare, to a degree where they had violated regulation on mandatory driver rests for the sake of welfare of the sows. The present study is among the few to focus on livestock drivers transporting sows, including questions about management choices and the animals’ fitness for transport. The findings may form basis for future development of educational programs for drivers as well as for the formulation of hypotheses for future studies in this area, characterized by complicated underlying legislation and challenges to animal welfare.

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Transport Fitness of Cull Sows and Boars: A Comparison of Different Guidelines on Fitness for Transport

Cited by 25 publications

References 31 publications

Risk Factors for Deterioration of the Clinical Condition of Cull Dairy Cows During Transport to Slaughter

Risk Factors for Deterioration of the Clinical Condition of Cull Dairy Cows During Transport to Slaughter

Transportation of cull sows-a descriptive study of the clinical condition of cull sows before transportation to slaughter

Experiences and opinions of Danish livestock drivers transporting sows regarding fitness for transport and management choices relevant for animal welfare

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