Guide to good practices for the transport

of sheep

2017

For more information:

www.animaltransportguides.eu
Acknowledgements

Citation
Please refer to this document as: Consortium of the Animal Transport Guides Project (2017).
‘Guide to good practices for the transport of sheep’

Correspondence
Any correspondence relating to this project should be sent by e-mail to:
[email protected]

DISCLAIMER
The positions expressed in this report do not necessarily represent in
legal terms the official position of the European Commission.

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 Contents
.......................................................................................................................................................................................................... 3
Contents ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 3
0. Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................................... 5
0.1 Approach and Acknowledgements.............................................................................................................................................. 5

0.2 Aim of this Guide ......................................................................................................................................................................... 8

0.3. Main welfare risks during sheep transport ................................................................................................................................ 8
0.4 Animal based measures .............................................................................................................................................................. 9
0.5 Structure of the guide ............................................................................................................................................................... 10
0.6 List of definitions ....................................................................................................................................................................... 11
1. Administrative issues ..................................................................................................................................................... 13
1.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................................................. 13
1.2 Administration .......................................................................................................................................................................... 14
1.3 Competence and training .......................................................................................................................................................... 15
1.4 Responsibilities.......................................................................................................................................................................... 16
2. Journey planning and preparation ................................................................................................................................. 18
2.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................................................. 18
2.2 Planning the journey ................................................................................................................................................................. 19
2.2.1 Journey duration ................................................................................................................................................... 19
2.2.2 Contingency plans ................................................................................................................................................. 21
2.3. Means of transport ........................................................................................................................................................ 24
2.3.1 Vehicle design and maintenance .......................................................................................................................... 25
2.3.2 Space on the vehicle ............................................................................................................................................. 26
2.3.3 Bedding on the vehicle.......................................................................................................................................... 27
2.3.4 Monitoring and evaluation ................................................................................................................................... 28
2.4. Animal related preparation ...................................................................................................................................................... 28
2.4.1 Preparation of animals and equipment ................................................................................................................ 28
2.4.2 Animals’ fitness for transport ............................................................................................................................... 29

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3. Handling and loading ..................................................................................................................................................... 31
3.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................................................. 31
3.2 Loading facilities ........................................................................................................................................................................ 31
3.3 Handling of animals during loading ........................................................................................................................................... 32
4. Travelling ....................................................................................................................................................................... 34
4.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................................................. 34
4.2 Driving ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 34
4.3. Climate control ......................................................................................................................................................................... 36
4.4. Rest, water and feeding ........................................................................................................................................................... 39
4.5. Care of sick or injured animals ................................................................................................................................................. 40
4.6 Emergencies .............................................................................................................................................................................. 43
5. Unloading animals ......................................................................................................................................................... 47
5.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................................................................. 47
5.2. Layout of the unloading area ................................................................................................................................................... 47
5.3 Handling of animals during unloading ....................................................................................................................................... 48
5.4 Care of animals following unloading ......................................................................................................................................... 49
5.5 Cleaning and disinfection .......................................................................................................................................................... 50
6. Stay at Control Posts, markets and assembly centres.................................................................................................... 52
6.1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................................. 52
6.2 Housing .......................................................................................................................................................................... 53
6.3 Feeding and watering .................................................................................................................................................... 55
6.4 Biosecurity, cleaning and disinfection ....................................................................................................................................... 57
6.5 Emergency................................................................................................................................................................................. 60
References ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 62

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0. Introduction

Since 1991, the EU has provided a common legal framework on animal transport which
was then updated by Regulation (EC) 1/2005 on the protection of animals during transport,
hereafter referred to as ‘the Regulation’. It came into effect on the 1st of January 2007,
and aims to provide a level playing field for operators while ensuring sufficient protection
for the animals being transported. The content and impact of the Regulation has been the
subject of a Scientific Opinion from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA, 2011),
followed in 2011 by an impact report from the Commission to the European Parliament and
the Council (Anon., 2011).
In this report, three key recommendations were formulated:
1. The Regulation has had beneficial impact on the welfare of animals during transport,
but there is room for improvement of the situation;
2. An amendment of the Regulation is not the most appropriate approach to
address the identified problems;
3. As regards the gap between the requirements of the legislation and available
scientific evidence the Commission sees that this is best addressed by the adoption
of guides to good practice.

The European Commission has welcomed the production of “clear and simple guidelines to
assess the fitness for transport” prepared by stakeholder groups for bovines in 2012, and
equidae and pigs in 2016. It was then considered important to extend this approach to
address all aspects of the welfare of livestock during transportation.

0.1 Approach and Acknowledgements

This Guide has been produced within the framework of the Animal Transport Guides
project, commissioned by DG SANTE under contract SANCO/2015/G3/SI2.701422. The
project started on the 10th of May 2015, and its main aim was to develop and
disseminate good and better practices for the transportation of livestock. The
foundation for this Guide was laid in the first project year, through an extensive literature
search and resulting overview of a substantial number of available practices. These
overviews of suggested practices can be found on the Animal Transport Guides website:
http://animaltransportguides.eu/. There is one report for each of five livestock species
(pigs, poultry, horses, sheep and cattle). In the second year, these very broad and diverse
lists were discussed and largely rewritten, to develop the present five Guides to Good
Practices. This involved an intensive process of stakeholder consultation.
The first step in moving from the collection of practices to a draft Guide of Good Practices
was taken at member state level. Teams consisting of academic partners from two
countries per species (the ‘Duo Countries’) took the lead.

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 Sheep: Spain and Romania
Poultry: Greece and France
Pigs: Italy and France
Horses: Italy and the Netherlands
Cattle: United Kingdom and
France

The academic partners identified

practices that are at the level of current
EU legislation (‘Good Practices’) and
practices that are aspiring more (‘Better
Practices beyond EU legislation’, or
simply ‘Better Practices’). The partners
then proceeded to ask national
stakeholder groups in their own countries
to reflect on these suggestions for good
and better practices. To support this process and work towards consensus, an iterative
Delphi procedure of anonymised input collection was used. Well over 100 stakeholders
were involved in this step, representing a variety of backgrounds. The largest number of
stakeholders indicated they were farmers (19 individuals), transporters (27),
slaughterhouse personnel (13), NGOs (12) and competent authorities (27).
Representatives from animal trade, academia and vehicle manufacturers also took part in
this consultation process. All discussions were carried out in the national language of the
member state involved. The final result of this Delphi procedure were five “Draft Guides to
Good Practice”. These were not published, but used as the basis for the final Guides.
The final Guides for each of the five livestock species were developed through a second
round of consensus building at European level, with the help of ‘Focus Groups’. These
focus groups had an international basis: the delegates were asked to represent knowledge,
experience and opinions beyond those of their own country. Table 0.1 below shows the
composition of these five focus groups.

Table 0.1 Composition of international Focus Groups, involved in the production of the
final Guides to Good Practice. The numbers indicate the number of representatives per
stakeholder category.
Sheep Poultry Pigs Horses Cattle Total
Farmers 3 5 3 1 12
Vehicle manufacturers 2 2
Animal traders 1 2 3
Transporters 3 2 3 5 13
Slaughterhouses 2 5 1 8
Official veterinarians 2 1 2 2 7
Animal scientists 2 3 2 2 2 11
Animal welfare 2 3 2 4 5 16
organisations
Total 10 21 12 13 16 72

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A first series of meetings of the five focus groups was organised at the end of May 2016.
During these meetings, the draft guides were presented by the academic partners. A road
map to turn the draft guides into the current final versions was then agreed with the
stakeholders. All focus groups held subsequent meetings in Brussels, to discuss and reach
consensus on the wording of each single practice to be included in the final Guides.
Different species groups had different numbers of meetings, and the last ones were held
in March 2017.
To support and help guide the process of writing, the Animal Transport Guides project team
set up a ‘Stakeholder Platform’. This group of people provided advice throughout the
first two years of the project on how to tackle issues that affect all five species guides. The
Platform was composed of representatives from 13 international organisations or
stakeholder groups: the International Road transport Union (IRU), the Federation of
Veterinarians of Europe (FVE), Eurogroup for Animals, Copa-Cogeca, Association of Poultry
Processors and Poultry Trade (AVEC), the German Breeders Organisation (ADT), Eyes on
Animals, the Irish Ministry of Agriculture, vehicle manufacturer Pezzaioli, Union
Européenne du Commerce du Bétail et des Métiers de la Viande (UECBV), European Forum
of Farm Animal Breeders (EFFAB), the German Transporters Organisation (BDT), and the
Greek Ministry of Agriculture. The Platform met 5 times in Brussels over two years.
As part of the development of the five Guides, the
species Focus Groups and the Stakeholder
Platform choose 17 topic areas which deserved
extra attention. The practices in these areas were
collected in 17 so called ‘Fact Sheets’, aiming to
summarise and illustrate in an accessible way the
most critical aspects of the journey or the most
vulnerable categories of animals. Linked to the
present Sheep protocol, 3 Fact Sheets were
produced: Long distance transport, Heat and
cold stress and Fitness to travel. These three,
and those related to the other Guides, are
published in eight European languages.
The target audience for the fact sheets are farmers, drivers, local veterinarians and abattoir
staff. The target audience for the Guides to Good Practice are transport organisers,
competent authorities and policy makers. The Guides and the Fact Sheets can all be found
on the project’s website: http://animaltransportguides.eu/.
The development of the Fact Sheets and the Guides would not have been possible without
the highly constructive discussions at national and international level with the many
stakeholders mentioned above. Their help with this process was essential, and the
authors are grateful for the time and knowledge they contributed to the writing
of the Guides.

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0.2
0.2 Aim of this Guide

The Guides to Good Practice have the aim to improve the welfare of animals during
transportation by providing practical tools to meet the requirements of the Regulation and
to suggest practices which go beyond legislation.
Transport is a stressful situation for animals. This guide lists practices that aim to support
entrepreneurs in increasing the quality of the transport of animals in accordance with the
Regulation, thus limiting stress to animals and promote animal welfare.

This document is not of legally binding nature and does not affect the requirements
of the EU legislation on animal transport or other relevant pieces of legislation. Nor does it
commit the European Commission. Only the Court of Justice of the European Union is
competent to authoritatively interpret Union law. The reader is therefore invited to consult
this guide in connection with the relevant provisions of the legislation and refer,
when necessary, to the relevant competent authorities.

0.3
0.3. Main welfare risks during sheep transport

Transport involves several potential stressors that can negatively affect animal welfare.
The new and unfamiliar environment, movement restrictions due to confinement,
vibrations, sudden and unusual noises, animal fitness, mixing with other animals,
temperature and humidity variations together with inadequate ventilation and often feed
and water restrictions all have an impact on the animals’ state.

The effects of all these factors are influenced by the experience and condition of the
animals, the nature of the journey, and the duration of transport. Long journeys have been
identified as being potentially more detrimental to the general welfare status of the
animals, because of the longer duration of exposure to the stressors mentioned above.
Therefore, it is clear that stressful journeys including hostile transport environments or
conditions may influence animal health and welfare negatively.

Inappropriate handling and transport can be associated with overt injuries, physiological
and psychological stress, immunosuppression and metabolic disturbances. These
responses may impact upon productivity and profitability through changes in animal body
weight, hydration state and meat quality in slaughter animals.

In order that welfare can be good during transport, it is important that all of those involved
are properly informed about the animals and how to assess their welfare 1.3 Competence
and training. Check the animals before loading will reduce the risk of sending animals for
transport who may not survive the trip, or suffer serious welfare consequences 2.4.2
Fitness to travel.
Careful planning of journeys 2.2 Planning and suitable vehicles should be selected, with
emphasis on compartments height and partitions used 2.3.1 Vehicle design.
Space allowances should be sufficient for sheep taking into account body weight and
presence of wool and thickness of fleece 2.3.2 Space on the vehicle
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Long journeys, should be avoided wherever possible 2.2.1 Journey duration and much
better conditions are needed if journeys are long 6.3 Feeding and watering. Vehicles
should be driven carefully and sudden turns and braking should be avoided, especially on
roads with sharp bends or at right angle turns into other roads 4.2. Driving. Thermal
conditions and ventilation management are important so that to reduce the effects of heat
stress on sheep 4.3 Climate control

0.4
0.4 Animal based measures

The ultimate aim of providing the right conditions during driving should be to provide good
welfare, so that the animals are healthy and fit when they come off the truck at
the destination. The current legislation, existing guidelines on Fitness to Travel (Eurogroup
for Animals et al., 2012), most quality assurance schemes and also the present guides
offer many suggestions on what these conditions should be. They advise for instance on
space allowances, frequency and duration of resting and the feed and water requirements
of the animals. This advice is based on years of experience or thorough research which has
identified the welfare risks associated with deviations from this advice: if space allowances
are too low, animals may not get access to water, may get more easily injured, and may
not be able to rest; if they do not rest enough, they will become exhausted, with
detrimental effects for welfare and meat quality; etc.
It is important to realise that recommendations based on ‘conditions’ (the resources on
the truck or the handling and animal management by operators) do not necessarily
guarantee good welfare: they merely offer advice to maximise the chance that the
welfare of the animal will be good. The effect conditions have on the actual welfare status
is influenced by other factors, as many of the (recommended) conditions are interacting
with each other. One obvious example is the relationship between the driving conditions
and the length of the journey: following a rough journey, the benefits of resting the animals
outside the vehicle outweigh the stress of offloading. However, if the journey has been
smooth and on-board conditions optimal, the benefits of offloading will be much lower and
in some cases it may even be better to leave the animals on the truck.
Given these limitations of management and resource related practices, it is obvious that
animal based measures can be a useful monitoring tool to help business operators
to ensure welfare and, if necessary, take the appropriate corrective actions. Animal based
measures (ABMs), such as injuries, panting, shivering, body and skin conditions, can be
interpreted as direct indicators of animal welfare. The use of ABMs during live animal
transport is not as novel and innovative as it may sound. Such indicators were included in
tools for transporters for a long time and good professional drivers and keepers
already base their actions on the ‘signals’ they get from the animals they work
with. During routine checks they will not (just) look at the temperature gauge to see if
ventilation is adequate: they will look at the animals for signs of panting or shivering. They
don’t judge tiredness by the length of the journey, but by looking at animal posture and
resting behaviour.
Animal Based Measures can be of use before, during and after a journey. They can be
used during routine checks to assess how the transport is going, and if action is necessary
to improve animal welfare. They can also be used after a journey, when animals are
unloaded, to know how the animals have experienced the transportation. Knowing this will
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help the transporter (and others who handle the animals) to improve the conditions during
the next journey with a different consignment.

Table 0.2 Animal Based Measures which can be used to monitor sheep welfare during
transport
Animal Based Description
Measures
Dead on arrival Animal that has stopped breathing and has no pulse (cardiac arrest)
on arrival.
Severe lameness An animal is considered severely lame when it shows inability to
or non- bear weight on one or more limbs while standing.
ambulatory An animal is considered non-ambulatory when it cannot rise or is
unable to stand un-aided.
Slipping Animal showing a loss of balance with a leg sliding unintendedly
over a small distance
Falling Animal showing a loss of balance during loading/unloading causing
other part(s) of the body (beside legs) to touch the floor.
Shivering, Shivering is defined as the slow and irregular vibration of any body
panting or part, or the body as a whole (skin movements due to flies are not
sweating assessed as shivering!). Panting is defined as breathing in short
gasps carried out with the mouth. Animals with visible signs of
sweating on their skin (wet animals, dried sweat spots, salt
deposits) during transport are counted as sweating animals.
Cleanliness Sheep are considered dirty if ≥25% of the body surface is covered
with dirt.
Exhausted Signs of severe fatigue or exhaustion are e.g. chin or limbs resting
at partitions or troughs, closed eyes, high drive to rest in recumbent
position.
Other severe Any severe clinical health problem that is easy visible and may have
health problems been initiated or worsened by transport (management) and is not
already covered by the parameters above.

0.5 Structure of the guide

Transport spans a chain of events from preparation to unloading. To facilitate the use of
the guide in every day practice, it will be structured according to six stages of the journey:
1. Administrative issues
2. Preparation and planning
3. Handling and loading animals
4. Travelling
5. Stay at Control Posts, markets and assembly centres
6. Unloading animals

Stages 2 – 6 follow transport activities in chronological order. The first ‘stage’ is added
because administrative issues, including staff competence, training etc. are important for
the execution of almost all activities during transport of animals. Each stage is subdivided
into a number of aspects, and for each of them this guide presents ‘good practices’ as well
as ‘better practices beyond EU legislation’. See below for definitions.

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The practices are not equally important in terms of their expected impact on animal
welfare. Therefore, this guide suggests topic areas which are very important, and areas
which are relevant but less important. The very important topics will be ‘boxed’ throughout
this guide.

The digital version of this Guide includes words or references with so called ‘hyperlinks’.
Clicking on these links (usually with ‘Control’ + ’left mouse click’) will lead to another
related part in this Guide, or to background information in documents or on websites,
providing of course the reader has internet access on his reading device.

0.6
0.6 List of definitions

For the purpose of these guides,

o ‘Good practices’ are defined as procedures and processes that ensure compliance
with requirements of legislation or regulations, designed to protect the animals’
welfare.
o ‘Better practices beyond EU legislation’ are defined as providing additional
guidance on how procedures and operations can be improved to exceed any legally
defined minimum welfare requirement, and to increase the welfare status of the
animals during the relevant periods and procedures. They will be abbreviated to ‘better
practices’ throughout the document.

In addition to the above operational definitions of good and better practices, the following
is a list of terms used in this Guide that may need a precise description to avoid confusion.

Table 0.3 Terminology used in this Guide

Assembly centre Places such as holdings, collection centres and markets, at which
domestic Equidae or domestic animals of bovine, ovine, caprine
or porcine species originating from different holdings are grouped
together to form consignments
Attendant A person directly in charge of the welfare of the animals who
accompanies them during a journey
Competent The central authority of a Member State competent to carry out
authority checks on animal welfare or any authority to which it has
delegated that competence
Control post Places where animals are rested for at least 12 hours or more
pursuant the rules for journey times and resting periods set up by
the Regulation. They must be approved by the competent
authorities.
Journey The entire transport operation from the place of departure to the
place of destination, including any unloading, accommodation and
loading occurring at intermediate points in the journey
Keeper Any natural or legal person, except a transporter, in charge of or
handling animals whether on a permanent or temporary basis
Long journey A journey that exceeds 8 hours, starting from when the first
animal of the consignment is moved
Navigation Satellite-based infrastructures providing global, continuous,
systems accurate and guaranteed timing and positioning services or any
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 technology providing services deemed equivalent for the purpose
of this Regulation
Official The veterinarian appointed by the competent authority of the
veterinarian Member State
Organiser (i) A transporter who has subcontracted to at least one other
transporter for a part of a journey; or
(ii) A natural or legal person who has contracted to more than one
transporter for a journey; or
(iii) A person who has signed Section 1 of the journey log (when
applicable)
Place of The place at which the animal is first loaded on to a means of
departure transport provided that it had been accommodated there for at
least 48 hours prior to the time of departure.
However, assembly centres approved in accordance with
Community veterinary legislation may be considered as place of
departure provided certain conditions (see Article 2 r of the
Regulation).
Place of The place at which an animal is unloaded from a means of
destination transport and accommodated for at least 48 hours prior to the
time of departure; or slaughtered
Transporter Any natural or legal person transporting animals on his own
account, or for the account of a third party
Vehicle A means of transport fitted with wheels which is propelled or
towed.
Shorn sheep Animal who has been removed of wool by use of power clippers
or blade shears.
Unshorn/full Animal who’s woollen fleece has not been cut off.
fleeced sheep

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1. Administrative issues

1.1 Introduction

A series of documents are required by the EU legislation to transport live animals

which must accompany the consignments and might be required at all time by the
competent authorities. Having properly prepared the documents required will prevent
unnecessary delays and additional checks by the authorities.
In addition, Good record keeping is the cornerstone of quality monitoring: it contributes
to transparency and supports quality evaluation. Records can be used to highlight
aspects that went well and to identify weaknesses that need to be addressed. Such
evaluations can be done at the level of a specific event such as a single journey, and also
by aggregating data at the level of multiple transports. Record keeping is indispensable for
maintaining and promoting adequate standards.
It is important that data requested to be recorded are clear and understandable and
easy and quick to log. They should be able to be assessed objectively, and be justified for
and proportional to the intended goals, i.e. safeguarding the welfare of the transported
animals. Records should not be longer than necessary and what is “needed to know” should
prevail over what is “nice to know”. Promoting and using electronic records facilitates
meeting the administrative requirements. Furthermore, synergy can be obtained by linking
animal welfare records with health and food safety records.
Transporters should carry the appropriate documentation with them during the
journey. They are likely to be checked for these papers by the competent authorities
either during transport or at any transfer or arrival.
In particular certificates of competence must be held by drivers or attendants
responsible for transporting domestic Equidae, domestic animals of bovine, ovine, caprine
or porcine species and poultry over 65 km. In the EU member states these are mainly
independently assessed qualifications specific to the species and duration of journeys
involved.
As is indicated in the Regulation, professional drivers and attendants should achieve
knowledge of the legislation in relation to the following topics:
o Animal transport,
o Animal physiology (in particular drinking and feeding needs)
o Animal behaviour and the concept of stress,
o Practical aspects of handling of animals,
o The impact of driving behaviour on the welfare of the transported animals and on the
quality of meat,
o Emergency care for animals and safety considerations for personnel handling
animals.

Drivers and attendants need to be able to adequately translate this knowledge into
practice. Insufficient knowledge of these issues is regarded as the main risk for impaired
animal welfare during transport.

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The competent authorities have to ensure that the requirements of Annex IV of the
Regulation have been included in a theoretical examination of applicants. The content
and duration of training courses, the professional qualifications which can be taken into
account, and the type of examination are the responsibility of each member state.

1.2 Administration

Good practices regarding Administration

1. Everyone transporting animals carries documentation on the means of
transport stating their origin and their ownership, their place of departure, the
date and time of departure, their intended place of destination, and the expected
duration of the intended journey.
2. Furthermore the following document might be necessary to accompany the
transport animals in the EU:
o An transporter authorisation for transports exceeding 65 km and up to 8
hours (Type I) and over 8 hours (Type II),
o A certificate of approval for transport vehicles for over 8 hours
o A certification of competence of drivers and attendants transporting domestic
Equidae, or domestic animals of bovine, ovine, caprine or porcine species or
poultry,
o A journey log for long journeys of domestic Equidae, or domestic animals of
bovine, ovine, caprine or porcine species (not for poultry),
o Animal health certificates (where required e.g. trade between Member
States or when exporting to non-EU countries)
o Food chain information regarding slaughter animals.
3. The transporter shall submit the journey log to the competent authority before the
journey commences and is held and fulfilled by the driver during the journey.
4. Animal health certificate and journey log shall be submitted via the electronic
application TRACES.
5. On long journeys of domestic Equidae, or domestic animals of bovine, ovine, caprine
or porcine species, transporters shall use a navigation system compliant with the
current legislation.
6. Organisers archive all transport records, animal health certificates and journey logs
of every transportation, for at least three years.

Better practices regarding Administration

7. Transport means provide information about the net usable surface area for each
loading deck.
8. The data of the journey log are presented in an electronic format to be transmitted
to the competent authorities.
9. The categories of animals within the species are indicated on top of the species
(e.g. rams, lambs, ewes).
10. Transport organisers keep transport contracts and journey logs in an archive for at
least 5 years.

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1.3 Competence and training

In general, only skilled workers can complete animal transportation with minimal impact
on animal welfare. The skills required (’competence’), obtained through training and work
experience in the animal transport chain, enable each operator:
o To have the necessary knowledge about the impact of their work on animal stress,
fear and related injuries
o To know about the impact of their work on the quality of the meat of transported
animals
o To recognise the main physiological signs to judge the state of the animals before
loading, during loading and transport phases and at unloading (e.g. posture,
nervousness and stress, etc.)
o To adapt the journey to specific conditions (variable sensitivity of breeds
transported to stress and mortality, weather conditions, events which can occur
during the trip)
o To know the biosecurity rules

Good practices regarding Competence and Training

11. Transport operators ensure that persons who handle livestock have a basic but
detailed understanding of animals' behaviour and physical needs. For an overview
of biological needs of horses whilst travelling see Chapter 2.4 Animal related
preparation.

12. Trainers impress upon keepers the potential effects of their actions upon animals
in their charge.
13. Transport operators ensure that there is a commitment to proper handling from
everyone, from the top down, involved with the livestock shipment.
14. Transport operators ensure compliance with the minimum legal training programme
required for the Certificates of Competence in Europe according to the Regulation
and national requirements if any.

Better practices on Competence and Training

15. A Welfare Transport Officer in charge of the training, certificates and check of the
quality of the transport is appointed in the transport company.
16. The practical abilities of the transporter are recorded and controlled (e.g. through
audits and checks in the field)
17. Key parameters are identified and recorded to assess the quality of the transport
(e.g. the incidence of mortality, injuries and any animal based measures of animal
welfare)
18. Transport companies ensure that drivers (and keepers) receive continuous and
updated training

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1.4 Responsibilities

Good practices on Responsibilities

19. The keepers and attendants (including the owners and managers) of the animals
are responsible for
a) the general health, overall welfare and fitness of the animals for the journey;
these are assessed and recorded by regular routine inspection,
b) ensuring compliance with any required certification, either veterinary or other,
c) the presence of an animal keeper / attendant competent for the species
being transported during the journey and with the authority to take prompt
action; in case of transport by individual trucks, the truck driver may be the sole
animal keeper during the journey,
d) the presence of an adequate number of animal keepers during loading, and
e) ensuring that equipment and veterinary assistance are provided as
appropriate for the species and the journey.
20. Business agents or buying/selling agents are responsible for
a) selection of animals that are fit to travel, and
b) availability of suitable facilities at the start and at the end of the journey for the
assembly, loading, transport, unloading and holding of animals, including for any
stops at resting points during the journey and for emergencies.
21. In addition animal keepers or attendants are responsible for the humane handling
and care of the animals, especially during loading and unloading, and for maintaining
a record of journey events and problems and the completion of the journey log on
long journeys. To carry out their responsibilities, they have the authority to take
prompt action. In the absence of a separate animal keeper, the driver is the animal
keeper.
22. The ‘Organiser’ is responsible for planning the journey to ensure the care of the
animals. This may be the transporter, the vehicle owner and/or the driver. In
particular they are responsible for
a) choosing appropriate vehicles for the species transported and the journey,
b) ensuring that properly trained staff are available for loading/unloading of
animals,
c) ensuring adequate competency of the driver in matters of animal welfare for the
species being transported,
d) developing and keeping up-to-date contingency plans for all journey types
(even when not mandatory) to address emergencies (including adverse weather
conditions),
e) producing a journey plan for all journeys (including where mandatory) which
includes a loading plan, journey duration, itinerary and location of resting places,
f) loading only those animals which are fit to travel, for their correct loading into
the vehicle and their inspection during the journey, and for appropriate responses
to problems arising (if fitness to travel is in doubt, the animal should be examined
by a veterinarian who is then responsible for declaring any animals unfit to
travel),
g) welfare of the animals during the actual transport, and
h) planning the journey, which should take into account any disparity in the
requirements for animal journey times and the requirements of the social
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 regulations relating to drivers’ hours, including the numbers of drivers
required for long journeys to achieve complete compliance. This will ensure
compliance with both sets of regulations. This may relate to both driver and
animal rest times and a decision on the number of drivers required for long
journeys.
23. Managers of facilities at the start and at the end of the journey and at resting
points are responsible for
a) providing suitable premises for loading, unloading and securely holding the
animals, with water and feed when required, and with protection from adverse
weather conditions until further transport, sale or other use (including rearing or
slaughter),
b) providing an adequate number of animal keepers to load, unload, drive and
hold animals in a manner that causes minimum stress and injury,
c) minimising the opportunities for disease transmission by detailed attention
to vehicle and facility cleaning, disinfection, hygiene and environmental
control, as well as provision of clean bedding,
d) providing appropriate facilities to deal with emergencies,
f) providing facilities and competent staff to allow the humane killing of animals
when required, and
h) ensuring proper rest times and minimal delay during stops.

Better practices on Responsibilities

24. Ensure there are clear definitions of responsibilities of keepers, attendants,
traders, transport organisers, farmers, assembly centre managers, drivers, control
post owners and slaughterers, and that they are listed in the transport contract and
to provide a checklist accessible by all staff including the driver(s) or attendants.
25. Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are established for each activity/task by
the agent defined as responsible. These describe precise protocols for feeding,
watering, renewal and replacement of bedding, animal inspection and monitoring and
definition of those individuals responsible for each task. SOPs are continuously
updated in accordance with new advice and/or guidance.

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2. Journey planning and preparation

2.1 Introduction

Good preparation and planning for the transport of sheep is one of the most important
stages of the journey. It is the key to successful animal transport in terms of compliance
with legislation, best practice and high standards of animal welfare and economic benefit.
Good planning promotes smooth execution of transport and is needed to minimize
the risk that the involvement of the different parties is poorly synchronised. The complexity
of the overall animal transport process necessitates well-structured integration of each
of the activities according to defined sets of objectives, responsibilities and monitoring
tasks. The anticipation of unexpected events and problems and the provision of
contingency plans to supplement well defined Standard Operating Procedures are
paramount. Next to the immediate animal welfare concerns, planning should include animal
health considerations (biosecurity), human health and safety aspects and economic
consequences. The importance of planning and preparation is also acknowledged by the
EU legislators, and journey logs with a planning section are obligatory for long journeys.
From an animal welfare point of view, the ‘preparation and planning’ stage includes the
following aspects:
o Planning the journey
o Vehicle preparation
o Animal related preparation
o Administration

These aspects are described in the paragraphs below.

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2.2 Planning the journey

The journey shall be as smooth and quick as possible in order to limit exposure to
transport stress. It shall be planned carefully to assure sheep welfare conditions during
the whole transportation. As part of the planning for each journey, arrangements shall
be made to manage any delay, breakdown or other emergency to minimise risks of
impaired welfare during all transport.

The journey shall be planned and prepared carefully after the announcement by the
farmer or trader of the date and the place of departure and the destination to the final
client. Journey plans involve written arrangements regarding start and unloading places,
contingency plans, and details on consignment sheets or arrangements that are in place
for rest stops, particularly for long journeys.

In particular, they shall include:

o description of the route of travel and estimation of its duration
o analysis of weather forecast
o choice of the transport company and of the truck (e.g. type I or II) and/or vessel
depending on journey duration and weather conditions, animal number and
categories, i.e. breeding ewes, lambs, cull animals,
o The reservation for unloading resting animals in a control posts when
applicable,
o a contingency plan
o planned number of drivers
o provisions for bedding material
o provisions for water and feed to be delivered at control post, depending on trip
duration
o assurances that the truck is ready at the place and time appointed for departure

2.2.1 Journey duration

The journey duration has to be estimated carefully and include the scheduled rests and
stops at control posts. Taking the journey duration into consideration, the right type of
vehicle and its equipment should be chosen.

Good practices on the nature and duration of the journey

26. The maximum permitted travelling time is 29 hours for adult sheep, and 19 hours
for unweaned lambs. If in the interests of the animals, the journey times may be
extended by two hours, taking account in particular of proximity of the final
destination.
27. After this period (max 29/19 hours), the animals must be unloaded for a resting
period of a minimum of 24 hours in a Control Post before travelling further (see
Table 2.1 below)

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28. The organizer must define accurately and realistically the duration of the
journey. He must prepare a route map, with stops (in Control Posts on long
journeys) and foresee any delays at customs or borders.

Table 2.1 Maximum permitted travelling times for sheep (EC 1/2005).
Stop at approved
Travelling Rest period. Travelling
Animal resting point
Time (hours) Animals remain in Time (hours)
species (authorization
Journey step 1 the vehicle. Journey step 2
code)
Rest period at Unloading for 24
least 1 hour for hours for
Adult ovine 14 hours 14 hours
water and if feeding, watering
necessary feed. and resting.
Rest period at Unloading for 24
Un-weaned least 1 hour for hours for
9 hours 9 hours
lambs water and if feeding, watering
necessary feed. and resting.

29. The organizer must choose the vehicle according to the journey duration and to
the type and number of sheep to be transported.
30. For long journeys, the itinerary should have the Control Posts and resting stops
identified and recorded in the journey plan.
31. All necessary documentation should be prepared and approved before the journey
begins (i.e. journey log for journeys longer than 8 hours, health guides, sanitary
authorization, declaration by the responsible person from the livestock farm, and the
certificate of cleaning and disinfection of the vehicle).
32. Clear and effective communication is essential between the driver/transporter and
the loading and unloading location. They must share telephone numbers in advance,
in order to be able to promptly communicate any modifications to the scheduled
transport programme before and during the journey.
33. The duration of the journey breaks should be long enough to check the animals
for any signs of compromised health or welfare and to check feed and watering
systems to ensure adequate supply is available.
34. Enough time should be available during stops to treat individual animals if
required following inspection.
35. Plan the journey to avoid delays such as rush hour traffic, road works,
diversions, ice and snow or flooding.
36. Ensure all required paperwork (e.g. livestock numbers, special requirements and
emergency contact information) is completed and provided to the driver, so that the
vehicle can leave immediately after loading.
37. Attention should be paid to the impact of thermal conditions (heat and cold) and
humidity on ALL journeys (both long and standard or short). Try to minimise the risk
of thermal stress.
38. Avoid travelling during the hottest periods of the day, plan to travel during the
cooler periods

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Better practices on the nature and duration of the journey
39. The journey plan should ensure that sheep can be unloaded promptly at the
destination in less than 30 minutes after arrival.

2.2.2 Contingency plans

The main goal of the transporter is to deliver the animals timely and in good welfare
conditions, despite risks of delay on the road. Emergencies may occur, even when optimal
preparation and planning has taken place. The contingency plan aims at helping the
driver and the transport company to ensure the security and the welfare of the
animals in case of emergency. The Regulation mentions these as a requirement for long
journey transporter authorisation, but they are also useful for short journeys. Contingency
plans are most useful when they are regularly trained and updated by the transporter.
They should address 4 questions: what potential risks may cause an emergency, what
can be done when they occur, who is to do what and how will the mitigating actions
be carried out. By being prepared, the transporter will be able to respond in an effective
manner and reduce the impact of a delay or accident on the animals. Figure 2.1 provides
an example taken from the Practical Guidelines to Assess Fitness for Transport of Equidae
(2016).

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Figure 2.1. The structure of an emergency plan (as presented in the Practical Guidelines
to Assess Fitness for Transport of Equidae, 2016)

Good practices regarding contingency plans

40. If a delay occurs, the welfare and safety of the animals must be considered
paramount at all times. It is the driver’s responsibility to keep the animals
comfortable and safe and ensure the journey time is kept to a minimum.

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41. The driver should make every reasonable effort to minimise the delay and ensure
that water, shade on a hot day, and adequate ventilation are available.
42. If necessary, the driver should seek the help of the police to enable his journey
to continue as soon as possible during long traffic hold-ups (i.e. if the road is closed
due to an accident).
43. In the case of a mechanical breakdown of the vehicle, the nature of the breakdown
should be determined and it should be estimated how long the repairs will take. If
the repairs cannot take place at the site of the breakdown or they will take an
extended period of time, arrangements for another vehicle will have to be made.

44. A contingency plan should be present in the vehicle. An example is provided in

Figure 2.1. The plan should be known and understood by everyone involved in
animal transport during any journey. It needs to describe how to handle
unforeseeable incidents and delays to ensure the animals do not suffer significant
harm. Delays can be caused by weather, traffic issues, accidents, road
construction, mechanical breakdowns or plant shutdowns. The contingency plan
must amongst other things include the provision for facilities to hold animals in
emergencies.

45. In case of emergencies the contingency plan is activated by the driver and/or
transporter, whoever is first aware of the emergency.
46. The contingency plan should include the following elements:
a) Solutions how a constant contact can be organised between the transporter
and the driver/s,
b) Solutions how a contact to authorities can be warranted (police/
veterinarians),
c) A list of contact-phone numbers of all parties involved.
d) Solutions how local breakdown services can be organised, how a taking over
of the shipment can be organised (substitutes),
e) Solutions to arrange repairs in case of a damage to the vehicle,
f) Solutions to unload animals in case of emergency or delay: places where
animals can be unloaded are identified throughout the planned route, and
this information is readily available to the driver.
g) Solutions how water, food and bedding can be organised for animals in the
case of unforeseeable long delays (e.g. at border crossings),
h) Other matters necessary to ensure the animals do not suffer significant harm
as a result of delays during transport.
47. Animals may become injured during transport and it may be necessary to
humanely kill an animal before it reaches its destination in order to prevent the
animal suffering further pain or distress. Therefore the transporter should have
readily available the contact details of a veterinarian or licensed slaughter man
competent in humane killing at locations along the journey or at the destination.
48. Only drivers or attendants who have a certificate of competence and have received
specific training in the field of animal emergency care, may attend to animals
injured during transport.

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Better Practices regarding contingency procedures
49. A contingency plan should also be drawn up and in place for short transports under
8 hours
50. In order to be properly prepared for an accident, each transport vehicle should
contain the following:
a) Emergency contact sheet with 24-hour phone numbers for dispatch, destination
point and local competent authorities, available veterinary surgeons, emergency
services, emergency plant operators and insurance companies,.
b) Emergency warning devices (e.g. flares, emergency triangles) consistent with
European requirements.
c) Camera / mobile phone camera
d) Accident information sheet
e) Company accident policy sheet/Standard Operating Procedures,
f) Fire extinguisher
g) Spill containment or cleaning kit
51. The transporter should constantly monitor the comfort and condition of the
animals during any delay.
52. The transporter, in the case of delay, should contact the origination and/or the
destination contact persons to inform them of the nature of the delay and
determine the best plan of action for themselves and for the well-being of the animals
53. Provision for convenient and simple emergency access should be present on
vehicles to make it easier to inspect the sheep and provide assistance to animals in
need
54. Emergency procedures are periodically tested and discussed with personnel
through internal audits, and amended as necessary
55. Equipment kept for emergency euthanasia is well maintained and can be operated
efficiently; documented training and equipment maintenance records are kept
56. Information on how to transport animals (incl. issues related to emergencies) is
shared between transporters, and what works or does not work is evaluated
regularly.

2.3. Means of transport

Vehicle design, maintenance, preparation and operation are key factors in ensuring high
standards of animal health and welfare during transportation. A major risk to animal
welfare is presented by the physical environment experienced on the vehicle, in particular
related to the thermal environment. Therefore, it is vital to ensure that ventilation
regimes are effective in maintaining internal conditions that are not only compliant with
legal requirements but are as close to the thermal optimal for the animals being carried.
Adequate and appropriate ventilation systems are essential because during journeys of
any duration weather conditions may change imposing varying thermal loads upon the
transported animals. Seasonal differences in weather conditions will constitute also a risk
in terms of thermal stress.
On long journeys on which animals may move across climatic zones the risk of thermal
stress is increased. Mechanical ventilation should remove heat and moisture to provide an
environment in which any risk of thermal stress is minimised. Design and operation of such

Page | 24
systems should be based upon an understanding of the animals’ requirements over and
above the specifications provided in current legislation. It is essential to understand the
principles of upper and lower critical temperatures and thermo-neutral zones to
ensure effective specification of ventilation requirements and operational strategies.
Further factors including humidity and wetness of coat can also influence the acceptable
temperature range.
Ventilation systems are either free or forced systems. Free ventilation systems are
common in vehicles used for short (less than 8 hours) journeys, whereas forced systems
are a requirement for long journey vehicles. According to the Regulation, the minimum air
flow rate of fans should not be lower than 60m3/h per 100 kg live weight. The efficacy of
forced ventilation systems becomes especially important with regard to transports from
Northern Europe to Mediterranean regions and their hot climates. For instance,
frequent stops due to traffic or border controls in hot climates can lead to heating up the
vehicle interiors resulting in heat stress for livestock. Ventilation is also important in
limiting the concentrations of ammonia from faeces and urine and of carbon dioxide from
exhalations inside the vehicle.
Poor suspension can also affect animal welfare. Excessive vibrations can lead to
symptoms ranging from nausea to muscular fatigue. Non-slippery floor surfaces are
essential for preventing falls.

Adequate bedding material should be dry with high ability to absorb fluids. Sufficient
amounts of bedding allow for more comfort and facilitate the resting of animals. If there
is no appropriate bedding (type and/or quality and/or quantity) in combination with
extreme temperatures, the welfare of the animals could be affected. The presence of
bedding material can make also the floor non-slip and this factor is essential to prevent
slipping and falling.

Scientists recommend that besides the legally required parameters, monitoring of

parameters such as relative humidity, vibration and total loaded weight could provide
additional information for assessing welfare during transport. However, much of the
equipment (e.g. that for measuring relative humidity) is still not sufficiently robust or
accurate enough for routine application in commercial transport. The automatic control of
mechanical ventilation by the monitored temperature of a control system is technically
feasible and new evidence suggests that it would be beneficial in animal transport.

2.3.1 Vehicle design and maintenance

Good practices on vehicle design and maintenance

57. Materials used in the construction of vehicles should be able to be cleaned
effectively. There should be a cleaning regime in place between each journey.
58. Internal surfaces of the vehicle should be smooth to reduce the risk of pressure
damage and bruising.
59. Vehicle gates and facilities should be wide enough to ensure free movement of
sheep and to minimise injuries.

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60. It must be possible to observe the animals at all times from outside the vehicle,
e.g. by opening the side flaps or back doors without the possibility of sheep to escape
61. Vehicle exhaust gases should not enter the livestock compartment to avoid
respiratory distress.
62. The vehicle should be constructed in such a way that sheep cannot get there limbs
stuck or injury themselves.
63. Flooring and surfaces should be designed to maximise grip, to minimise slipping
and falling. Design to improve grip include slats or grooves in the surface. If sheep
are seen to be slipping and falling, the reason should be identified and appropriate
action taken.
64. Special consideration should be given to multi-tiered vehicles. These should be
suitably designed, maintained and managed so that animals are protected from the
elements and animals on the upper tiers do not soil the sheep on the lower tiers.
65. Partitions should be available when travelling in hilly or high-traffic areas or when
carrying small numbers of sheep, to prevent them from being thrown around or
injured. Partitions should also be used for segregation when required.
66. On long journeys, the vehicle should be equipped with a minimum of four
temperature probes per deck. The reason is that the temperature inside the
vehicle varies dependent on the zone where the sheep are (the highest temperatures
are likely to be experienced at the front of the animal compartment on the top tier;
the lowest temperatures are likely to be encountered on the lowest tier at the rear)
67. On long journeys, the vehicle shall be fitted with a navigation system and global
positioning system (GPS), this will allow the competent authority to track vehicles
and ensure that journey plans are followed.
68. Essential mechanical repairs (e.g. tyre changes) and regular maintenance should be
undertaken promptly to prevent undue delays.

Better practices on vehicle design and maintenance

69. Lambs and recently shorn sheep (up to 10 days after shearing) are susceptible to
wind chill and should be transported in vehicles with enclosed fronts or provided
with protection during weather that could cause heat or cold stress. Newly shorn
sheep should only be transported if they have a staple growth of at least 7.0mm (this
may be achieved either by allowing re-growth or by shearing with a suitable long
comb); and if the sheep have not been shorn less than 24 hours before the start of
the journey
70. The vehicle should be checked after each journey.
71. If any incident occurs during the journey, it should be recorded and any issues
should be resolved before starting the next transport.
72. Routine vehicle checking and maintenance should be carried out at least once
a year.

2.3.2 Space on the vehicle

Good practices on space on the vehicle
73. The livestock vehicles must be designed to ensure that sheep can rise from lying
to a standing position without contacting overhead deck structures and
allowing optimum ventilation.
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74. Unshorn sheep and lambs of ≥ 26 kg with thick fleece should be offered 25 % more
space than shorn sheep.

Better practices on space on the vehicle

75. For sheep the space above the highest point of the animals should be of at least
15 cm on vehicles with forced ventilation and 30 cm on vehicles without forced
ventilation.
76. Space allowances for sheep should differentiate between fleeced sheep, lambs and
shorn sheep, as presented in Table 2.

Table 2. Recommended space allowances for sheep

Fleeced sheep Lambs and shorn sheep

Live weight Short journey Long journey Short journey Long journey
(kg) (m2) (m2) (m2) (m2)

20 0.21 0.27

30 0.28 0.36

40 0.39 0.51 0.34 0.43

50 0.45 0.60 0.35 0.50

60 0.51 0.67 0.40 0.57

70 0.56 0.75 0.44 0.63

80 0.61 0.82 0.48 0.69

77. Previous space allowances should be increased if temperatures are very high or the
journey is likely to be more stressful.

2.3.3 Bedding on the vehicle

Good practices on bedding

78. Bedding materials should be comfortable to lay on, anti-slip and highly
absorbent of water and urine.
79. Lambs ≤20 kg need special attention. They need to be given adequate bedding
or equivalent material which guarantees comfort appropriate to the number of
animals transported, the duration of the journey and forecasted weather conditions.

Better practices on bedding

80. Softwood sawdust around 1 to 2 mm particle size can be used as bedding.
However, avoid using sawdust if the animals are being transported to the
slaughterhouse, as it can increase the contamination of the carcass. In contact with
urine and feces it sticks to the wool of animals compromising the hygiene of the
slaughter operations. In this case, straw and rice husk are better options.

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81. During cold weather, it increase bedding or insulation and remove wet
bedding after each trip to prevent it from freezing onto the vehicle.
82. During hot weather, do not use straw bedding. Better are wet sand, wet
shavings, sawdust or rice husk.

2.3.4 Monitoring and evaluation

Good practices regarding monitoring and evaluation
83. Vehicles carrying out long journeys should be equipped so that all transported
animals can be accessed and inspected.
84. The vehicle should be designed so that during the journey at every inspection
stop the driver can check:
o The health and animal welfare status of the sheep
o Any bruises, injuries, wet fleeces or lameness
o Panting or shivering of the animals
o Potential damage to the vehicle
85. Tracing systems which monitor and record time, position and parameters such
as air temperature should be present. They will improve the routine assessment of
welfare during transport and reduce the administrative burden related to the journey
log.

Better practices regarding monitoring and evaluation

86. Monitoring of parameters such as relative humidity, vibration and total loaded
weight should be used to provide additional information for assessing welfare during
transport.

2.4. Animal related preparation

Several aspects of the preparation stage are related to the animals that are intended to be
transported. These are addressed to face the main risks mentioned in paragraph 0.2 and
aimed to avoid:
o too long loading time which could be particularly stressful in hot climate conditions
in stationary truck in which ventilation can be critical
o poor fitness of sheep to travel which can worsen during transport and become
dramatic and causing animal suffering

2.4.1 Preparation of animals and equipment

Critical points that may impact animal welfare before starting the journey include the level
of familiarity of the animals. Familiar animals should be kept in the same pen or vehicle.
Mixing unfamiliar animals from different social groups will increase stress and can lead to
aggressiveness and fighting.
Another important issue is the amount of water and food animals receive before the
journey. Fasting will reduce the dirtiness of animals during transportation. However, it is
important that fasting is not too long as it produces hunger in animals, depletes their
energy levels, can lead to fatigue and dehydration during the journey and negatively effects

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on meat quality (dry, firm and dark meat). For long journeys it is necessary to water and
feed the animals.
Good practices on animal related preparation
87. Organize the animals in homogeneous social groups before starting to load. These
groups should be animals of the same size and age, and preferably the group that
the sheep were in prior to transport. This is important in order to minimize stress to
the sheep during loading/unloading and transport.
88. Check and record the identification (ear tags, intraruminal boluses, etc.) of all the
animals to be transported.

Better practices on animal related preparation

89. Fasting before short transports (less than 2 hours) is not necessary. Fasting
times at farm should not exceed 12 hours.
90. Sheep only want to eat familiar feed. Therefore, either use their normal feed during
the journey or feed introduced several days before departure.
91. Sheep should be fed hay or fibre before transport to sustain them for the journey,
particularly if they are lactating.

2.4.2
2.4.2 Animals’ fitness for transport
It is necessary to check the fitness of each sheep before loading, taking into account the
specifications of the legislation. Animals in late pregnancy (> 90% gestation), just after
delivering, or lambs less than a week old should never be transported. Furthermore,
animals should not be transported if they present one of the following conditions.
o Animals that experience severe pain when moving e.g. animals with broken
extremities or a broken pelvis.
o Animals with severe haemorrhages.
o Animals that are only able to stand after being forced (e.g. very weak, fatigued or
emaciated animals).
o Animals, that are lame to such a degree that they can put little or no weight on one
of their legs.
o Animals that have just been dehorned and of which the wound has not yet healed.
o Animals with visible cardiovascular or respiratory disorders.
o Animals with apparent lack of coordination (e.g. animals that have difficulties keeping
their balance).
o Blind animals.
Wounded or unfit to travel animals should be transported only under exceptional
circumstances and under close supervision

Good practices on fitness for transport

92. Sheep should be assessed for fitness for the intended journey, before loading by a
qualified person.
93. The farmer and transporter are accountable for ensuring that the animal is fit
for the journey ahead.

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94. In cases where the keeper has doubts on the fitness conditions, he should call a
veterinary practitioner, who will issue a veterinary certificate stating the fitness of
the animal.
95. If a sheep is unfit for the intended journey, proper arrangements for the care,
treatment or humane killing of the animal should be made as soon as possible.

Better practices on fitness for transport

96. The minimum age at which lambs can be transported varies according to the duration
of the journey. The recommendations in Table 2.2 should be followed.

Table 2.2 Minimum age of lambs for transport according to duration of the journey
Age of lambs Journey duration
From 10 to 15 days ≤ 2h
From 15 days to 6 weeks ≤ 8h
more than 6 weeks
≥ 8h
more than 8 weeks (for some animals weaned later)

97. Effective management options for sheep considered unfit for the intended journey
include:
o Resting them in a suitable holding area
o Provision of shelter, feed and water
o Veterinary treatment if necessary
o Humane killing if necessary

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3. Handling and loading

3.1 Introduction

Loading is one of the most stressful times for sheep. During this process the animals are
moved from the holding pens to the vehicle and loaded via a ramp or lift. The stress
caused to animals is physical as well as psychological. The animal has to make an
extra physical effort during its movement onto the vehicle, and psychological stress occurs
because the animals leave a familiar environment, to be housed in a completely different
and new environment. In addition, animals are handled by unknown personnel.

To reduce stress during loading, the following two main points should be taken into
account:
o Firstly, the design of farm facilities and the design of the vehicle ramps should
facilitate the movement of animals to reduce their stress response. Poor design of
loading and unloading facilities, combined with poor handling, may cause slipping,
falling, bruises and eventually injuries and more stress to the animals, thus producing
low meat quality and economic losses.
o Secondly, rough treatment of the animals must be avoided. This requires that the
personnel involved have experience in handling sheep as well as knowledge of its
normal behaviour. Sheep are gregarious animals and they have a strong social
instinct, therefore they tend to walk side by side. Sheep suffer from severe stress
when they are handled in group smaller than five individuals and transportation of a
single sheep is inadvisable. In this sense, vocalisation and teeth grinding can be
observed in sheep that suffer isolation distress. Sufficient time should be allowed for
loading. Rough treatment is the main cause of bruising in sheep.

Loading starts when the first sheep to be transported exits the holding or lairage pen of a
farm, assembly centre or control post and is moved towards the vehicle and will end when
all the sheep are in the vehicle (last animal loaded). Unloading and the transport (time)
ends when the last animal is unloaded from the vehicle (final destination).

3.2 Loading facilities

Good Practices regarding loading facilities

98. Loading areas must be prepared in advance of the transport

99. Railings on ramps and raceways should be of appropriate height so that they
cannot jump over it, with the gaps sufficiently narrow at the bottom to prevent sheep
or their limbs being caught, slipping through or becoming injured.
100. Ramp should have a non-slip surface.
101. Ramp inclines should be no more than an angle of 26 degrees, which means that
ramps should have a maximum height of 50 cm measured 1 meter before the
end of the ramp.

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102. Ramp width should allow animals to walk together. Sheep are gregarious animals
and they have a strong social instinct, therefore they tend to walk side by side.
103. The width of the loading dock should be at least the width of the transport
vehicle.
104. A transporter should ensure that the ramp and the vehicle are properly aligned,
and that any gap between the ramp and the vehicle is sufficiently narrow to minimise
the likelihood of injury to sheep during loading.
105. Where the slope is steeper than 10 degrees, that is 17.6 cm height for 1 meter
long to the horizontal, ramps shall be fitted with foot battens, which ensure that
the animals climb or go down without risks or difficulties
106. Lifting platforms and upper floors shall have safety barriers so as to prevent animals
falling or escaping during loading and unloading operations.
107. If inspecting the vehicle during the night or where light is insufficient, a portable
source of lighting must be available.

Better practices regarding loading facilities

108. The height of railings on ramps and raceways should be 1.2m, with no gaps
that might cause injury to the sheep or disrupt their movement to where they are
being taken.
109. Solid floor extensions should be used to cover any gaps between the loading ramp
floor and the floor of the vehicle through which an animal or part of an animal might
slip.
110. A layer of straw should be used to cover the loading ramp floor to increase the grip
on the surface and to avoid the animals falling or slipping.
111. Ramp slope should be as low as possible (i.e. less than 10º) and it is
recommended to reduce this inclination during unloading, especially for lambs. A way
to decrease the inclination of the ramp is to increase its length through a mobile ramp
that may be used as an extension of the vehicle’s ramp.

3.3 Handling of animals during loading

Good Practices when handling animals during loading

112. Sheep are social animals. They are less stressed when in the company of other sheep.
So they should be handled in groups in a calm and quiet manner to minimize
stress and injuries.
113. Sheep react to danger, so act with empathy towards them and avoid them to panic.
Shouting, noise making and sudden movements should be avoided.
114. Sheep with no room to move should not be forced, prodded, pushed or excessively
handled.
115. Ensure the ramp is free of objects or anything else of which the sheep are afraid.
Where excessive handling effort is needed, the design of the facility should be
examined.
116. Move animals from dark to light zones, animals may hesitate when entering darker
zones.

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117. A person who handles sheep in the transport process should do so in a manner that
is appropriate to the sheep class, and minimises pain or injury. Specifically:
o Sheep must not be lifted by the head, ears, horns, neck, tail, legs or wool.
o Mechanical lifting of sheep should ensure that the sheep is supported or secured
as necessary.
o Sheep must not be thrown or dropped.
o Sheep must not be struck, punched or kicked.
o Check the animals in the upper decks, before you lower down the roof of the
truck.
o Check on both sides of truck, when using the hydraulic to avoid animals getting
limbs trapped.

Better practices when handling animals

118. Handling techniques should use the flocking instinct of sheep. Sheep have a strong
following instinct and a ‘flight zone’ that should be understood and used for efficient
sheep handling.
119. Waving flags or plastic bags can be used to stimulate the animals moving and
to facilitate the loading operations. This is a practical and useful method, particularly
for lambs.
120. Practices for moving sheep which are positive for animal welfare, working conditions
and profit should be used. They include:
o The use of a trained sheep to lead the rest of the animals into the vehicle. If it
is not possible, the lamb of a mother which has recently given birth may be used.
In this case, the mother follows the lamb and the rest of the group follows the
mother.
o The use of a positive incentive in front of the animals. This incentive could be
a bucket with feed for sheep or a feeding bottle for lambs. It is important that
animals are familiar with the incitement used, if they are not accustomed to it, its
use produces will result in stress for the animals.
o The use of a non-transparent opaque moveable barrier of one meter high
around the area from which the animals need to be moved, with a single opening
on the side of the truck.
121. Loading of sheep should be done early in the morning when the weather is likely
to be hot. This will reduce the risk of heat stress in the animals.

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4. Travelling

4.1 Introduction

The longer the journey, the greater the risk that welfare is negatively affected. There
are four main aspects of animal transport, which have increasing impact on welfare as
duration increases. These relate to the physiological state of the animal, feeding and
watering, rest and thermal environment. If animals are fit, properly prepared to travel
and the journey has been planned well, they are likely to arrive at destination in
a good welfare state and able to recover quickly after unloading and a relatively short
time of rest.

4.2 Driving

Drivers play one of the most important roles in livestock transport. Usually they must
take sole responsibility for the welfare of animals on the road. How drivers operate vehicles,
how much time they spend checking on animal welfare, and how well they are prepared to
deal with emergency situations greatly influences the outcome of any livestock highway
shipment.
While standing in a moving vehicle, all livestock struggle to maintain their balance and to
avoid contact with other animals. If smooth driving is not provided, they might fail in this
effort. Moreover, rough driving impacts negatively upon animal welfare and will increase
also imposed stress and the risk of injuring animals. The main welfare impairments related
to driving quality include loss of balance. In sheep, this is a relevant stress factor related
to transport because erratic driving obliges them to make continuous postural
adjustment to maintain balance and to avoid falling.

There is a good relationship between driving skills, the amount of stress on livestock, and
also the profitability of the transport business. Smooth, consistent driving habits allow the
animals to relax more during a journey than hard, erratic driving. Scientific studies have
shown that not only does a hard driving style increase measurable stress on the animals
transported, but it also significantly decreases meat quality. It has been estimated that
there is a difference of 20% in fuel efficiency between driving on a flat road at uneven
speeds of up to 100km/h compared with a uniform, cruise controlled safe speed of 80km/h.
If you encounter a slower driver on a road with no passing opportunities, sit back and take
a steady pace rather than hustling a situation you do not control.

The principles of road-holding of an HGV (Heavy Goods Vehicle) and the ability of an animal
to be sure-footed are the same. However, the driver has complete control over the vehicle,
but only partial control over the animal. Drivers compensate for this partial lack of control
by applying knowledge of how an animal will behave under certain conditions. Transported
animals have more pressure on their feet than the load on the vehicle tyres, and they will
be working hard to stay on their feet. The more effort they are required to make, the
greater the stress they will be under.

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Smooth braking helps to keep animals on their feet with a minimum of effort. Hard
breaking results in more stress, which can lead to bad welfare, and in turn results in poor
meat quality.

Good practices on driving

122. Drivers should use smooth driving techniques, avoiding sudden turns or fast stops,
to minimise excessive movements of sheep and to prevent injuries, bruising, slipping
and falling of the animals.
123. Drivers should recognise the difficult conditions under which they work. There are
very few drivers on the road that require more skills than the those who transport
livestock. Live animal transporters have a vehicle with a high centre of gravity, and
a load which is alive and not tied down.
124. Avoid harsh breaking
125. Try to use a constant throttle
126. Check that the brakes and braking systems are properly adjusted
127. Use the engine break or retarder if fitted
128. Fit automatic anti-lock breaking
129. Although there are tight time schedules to keep, drivers should phone ahead if they
encounter problems on the road instead of putting pressure on the livestock, the
vehicle, and themselves.
130. Drivers who observe the following procedures will help assure arrival of stock in good
condition:
a) Start out slowly and avoid fast stops. Fast starts and stops, taking curves too
fast, etc., will knock animals down.
b) Keep loaded livestock vehicles moving, especially during hot weather.This will
maintain a constant air flow that will help keep animals cool and prevent build-up
of gases from animal wastes.
c) Plan to make periodic stops during transport to check welfare of stock (Are
there any downers? Do any appear ill? Are they too cold or overheated?).
d) Make vehicle security inspections when checking animals during a stop. Make
sure load partitions are in place and secure, trailer doors are securely closed, and
bedding is sufficient.
e) Be prepared to make decisions or get instructions promptly about how to care for
the animals depending on changing weather conditions.

Better practices on driving

Driving quality should be monitored and recorded using accelerometers installed in the
vehicles.

131. Drivers should try to minimise the time for which any trailer containing animals is
left unattended, particularly where there is any perceived or significant risk to
animal welfare.
132. Drivers should avoid rush-hour traffic when possible.
133. Drivers should ensure that during roadside checks they obtain priority over
other vehicles. Priority must be obtained in the interest of animal welfare.
134. Drivers should request priority in the case of delays caused by accidents.

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135. There should be routine auditing of means of transport and practices of transporters,
addressing whether
a) the driver knows the emergency actions and has them available in his cab
b) the trailer is in good state (sides, flooring, ramps and gates)
c) the driver leaves within 15 minutes after loading the animals
d) the driver knows the plant requirement for boarding and bedding
e) sufficient water is available for watering the animals
f) the driver has the ability to adjust trailer ventilation during the journey if
necessary
g) the behaviour of the sheep is checked during the resting periods (e.g.
respiratory behaviour, sweating, etc.).

4.3. Climate
Climate control
Animals transported over long journeys may endure prolonged exposure to extreme heat
or cold, or may endure radical climate changes that can increase transport stress. The
internal thermal microenvironment on vehicles is a major determinant of animal
welfare and may pose a significant hazard in terms risk of heat or cold stress. Careful
attention should therefore be paid to:
o airflow within the transport unit
o the speed of travel
o the number, location and conditions of planned stops
o the space allowance
o the condition of the sheep

During the hot season, ventilation rates should be high to maintain the temperature
within the thermo-neutral zone of the animals. Air quality should not be a problem due to
high airflow rates. During the cold season, ventilation rates will be lower (to maintain
a thermo- neutral temperature) and air quality is likely to deteriorate.
For a given space and vehicle design, the temperature-humidity index (THI) inside the
transport vehicle generally increases when vehicles are stationary in proportion to the
duration of the stop. During journeys in summer, the stationary periods and the increase
of external climatic temperature (>25 ºC) may induce thermal stress. The solution to these
problems must involve modification and improvement of the ventilation regime,
developing active systems of environmental control.
During the journey the driver must be alert to notice anything that can go wrong, inspecting
livestock as required, and taking action if a problem arises that affects the livestock. To
achieve this, it is preferable to have frequent inspection stops during the journey,
especially when dealing with long journeys. Thermal adequacy in the truck can be assessed
by looking for panting of the animals (which indicates that the temperature is too high).
This can also be observed in case of overstocking or poor ventilation in the truck. Huddling
of sheep indicates that the animals are cold.

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Good practices for climate control
136. The temperature within the vehicle should not fall below 5 °C or rise above 30 ºC,
with a tolerance of 5 ºC. Therefore at all times the temperature should be
between 0 and 35 ºC.
137. In hot weather, avoid parking in direct sunlight for prolonged periods. If practical,
park passively ventilated vehicles at right angles to the wind direction, with
sufficient apertures open, to optimise air movement through the container.
138. Sufficient ventilation must be available at all times while the animals are on a
vehicle.
139. Never leave a trailer /semitrailer with animals on board standing somewhere
without working ventilation and an attendant nearby.
140. In high temperature conditions, it is recommended to minimize the number of
stops. Otherwise, when possible, the trailer should be parked in an area that
provides shade and allows for a breeze to pass through the sides of the trailer and
the loading ramp should be opened. Do not park near other vehicles due to the
potential for reduced air flow and increased risk of disease transfer

Better practices for climate control

141. Temperature should be monitored in combination with humidity. This allows a
tracing system to automatically calculate the temperature-humidity index (THI). This
temperature and humidity monitoring system should be housed in the cabin in order
to facilitate the work of the driver (Fig. 4.3).

Figure 4.3 An example of climate monitoring equipment

142. The minimal and maximal temperatures within the vehicle should take the relative
humidity and the fleece of the sheep into account. Minimum and maximum
acceptable values are presented in Table 4.1.

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Table 4.1. Recommended temperature ranges for different categories of sheep adjusted
to the Relative Humidity (RH) levels within the vehicle (EFSA, 2004).

Recommended temperature ranges with mechanical

ventilation
Type Maximum adjusted for humidity (ºC)
Minimum (ºC)
RH < 80% RH > 80%
Full fleeced sheep 0 28 25
Shorn sheep 10 32 29

143. Drivers should ensure that ventilation is adequate at ALL times to maintain
appropriate thermal conditions and air quality on-board the vehicle / trailer
144. Animal behaviour and spatial distribution within the container should be
monitored and any abnormal behaviour associated with inadequate ventilation is
acted on and recorded
145. Action is taken and documented if animals show signs of overexposure to noxious
gases, such as watering eyes, nasal discharge and coughing, retching, ocular/vision
disorders to remove animals from the situation or improve ventilation or otherwise
lower levels of noxious gas.

146. During cold weather, care should be taken to avoid cold stress and chilly wind,
particularly for recently shorn sheep and lambs and for long journeys. Remedial
actions that should be applied when animals show signs of being too cold include:
o Wait for warmer temperatures
o Reduce space allowance if animals have more than the minimum allowed (e.g.
breeding animals)
o Provide feed before loading
o Provide additional bedding or insulation
o Increase weather protection for animals on vehicles
o Protect livestock from wind chill during cold weather by adjustment of flaps or
windows and the use of protective sheeting with due consideration for overall
ventilation requirements
o Restrict air movement through trucks by using side covers to partially block air
movement through trailers. Be careful to maintain adequate ventilation.
o Keep animals as dry as possible. Shipment of wet animals may cause death
from wind chill. Even the fleece of sheep may not protect them from wind chill
when saturated.
o Protect animals from prolonged exposure to freezing rain and sleet.
Precipitation in this form can be deadly to animals.
o Pre-warm vehicles by using heaters prior to loading, particularly for young
animals
o Prevent the freezing of drinkers and/or water lines by the use of heaters or the
addition of (commercially available) mixtures such as glycerine and glucose to
the water supply.

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 147. In hot weather, animals should be inspected at every opportunity for signs of heat
stress. Remedial actions that should be applied when animals show signs of being
too warm include:
o Delay of the journey until there are cooler temperatures, e.g. at night
o Load and transport sheep during the cooler parts of the day
o Use of climate controlled vehicles
o Increase space allowance by at least 30% – a decision which must be made prior
to actual loading commencing and with consideration of the higher risk of loss
of balance
o Provision of drinking water to animals as often as possible
o Provision of water or electrolyte solutions
o Increase ventilation
o Minimise the duration of the stops, when possible.
o Parking the vehicle in the shade and in a place with sufficient air flow

4.4.
4.4. Rest, water and feeding
feeding
Healthy adult sheep, transported under good conditions can tolerate long journeys without
undue compromise to their welfare. However, exposure to heat stress increases water loss
principally through thermal panting and this increases the risk of significant dehydration.
After a period without access to feed and water during transport, sheep must
have access to drinking water after feeding, and before a subsequent journey is
undertaken. This is due to their difficulty to drink water from unfamiliar sources in novel
environments. A 24 hour rest stop is sufficient to ensure adequate drinking and rest.

Good practices on rest, water and feeding

148. At the end of the legal maximum permitted travelling time (29 hours for adult
sheep and 19 hours for un-weaned lambs), the animals must have a break of a
minimum of 24 hours before continuing. They must be unloaded and have access
to food and water before their journey recommences.
149. Before or during long journeys, un-weaned animals should be offered electrolytes
or milk substitutes during the resting period.
150. Metal nipples or troughs alone should not be considered as being adapted for the
drinking of un-weaned animals. Only vehicles equipped with pails and flexible
teats should be considered acceptable for that purpose.
151. The provision of liquid feed to lambs in transit is considered to be impractical. On
long journeys (> 8 hours) it is recommended that lambs are taken to a Control
Post and unloaded upon arrival. At the Control Post lambs should be provided
(individually) with milk (or electrolytes) and then be rested for 24 hours with
appropriate further provision of milk / food.

Better practices on rest, water and feeding

152. Transporters should water the animals manually during hot weather and
especially during delays. This is the only guarantee that all the animals receive
enough water.
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153. Sheep should be monitored to determine whether they are drinking as
expected. If they are not drinking, try to encourage them to drink by:
o Ensuring all sheep can access the water facilities and use the drinkers (i.e.
showing some animals how the drinkers work)
o Checking the water quality (e.g. by flushing water lines, keeping troughs clean)
If after these actions the sheep still do not want to drink, empty the tank water
and replace it with fresh drinking water.

4.5.
.5. Care of sick or injured animals
Sick or injured animals in the context of transportation fall in to 3 categories.
a) Animals identified as sick or injured at the point of departure
b) Animal that are identified as sick or injured during a journey
c) Animals that are identified as sick or injured at the point of destination or control
posts

Individual animals may fall into more than one of these groups. However, if animals are
identified as sick or injured during a pre-journey inspection at their origin they should be
deemed as not fit for transport and should not be loaded. (see also 2.4.2 Fitness for travel).
Animals identified as sick or injured at the end of the journey will be dealt with by the
appropriate authority at the destination e.g. the veterinarian at a slaughterhouse or control
post.
Only animals that are identified as sick or injured during a journey will be
addressed here. These animals may be identified during routine journey breaks or
specific inspection stops (e.g. additional stops during hot weather), and will probably fall
into one or more of these categories:
o Animals that have fallen or been trampled or injured e.g. as a result of aggression
and have a clear lesion or fracture
o Animals that exhibit an injury such as a hernia or prolapse or dislocation
o Animals that are exhibiting the symptoms of heat or cold stress and/or
dehydration
o Animals that appear to have developed symptoms of a disease or infection
o Ewes that have an abortion or give birth during journey
These animals should be assessed and decisions made immediately regarding remedial
actions or treatments.

Animals should be transported in such a way that each animal can be observed during the
journey to ensure their safety and good welfare. Video recordings may help, e.g. breathing
rate (associated with heat stress) can be observed directly, but also from good-quality
video recordings. If the animals are in multi-tiered vehicles which do not allow free access
for observation, for example where the roof of the tier is too low, animals cannot be
inspected adequately, and serious injury or disease could go undetected.

Good practices regarding care of sick and injured animals

154. A person driving a vehicle containing livestock will need to check the animals in
the vehicle at regular intervals during a long journey. The intervals between

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 regular checks correspond to the intervals between rest periods which are prescribed
by law for drivers.

155. When animals are checked, the driver should look for:
o The health and animal welfare status of the sheep
o Any bruises, injuries, wet fleeces or lameness
o Panting or shivering of the animals

156. Inappropriate driving conditions can be detected by the presence of bruises,

injuries, wet fleeces or lameness. While bruising would only be evident post-mortem,
injuries, wet fleeces and lameness mainly become visible during unloading.
157. Inappropriate grouping of animals or inadequate accommodation on the vehicle
can be assessed by looking at injuries. In addition, most animal will stand up as
soon as the vehicle stops and special attention should be paid to those that remain
lying after vehicle’s engine is turned off (they might be injured or ill).
158. Thermal adequacy in the vehicle can be assessed by looking for panting (this
indicates that temperature is too high). Panting can also be observed in cases of
overstocking or poor ventilation in the truck. Shivering, on the other hand, may
indicate that the temperature is too low.
159. Sheep should also be monitored to determine whether they are drinking as
expected and, if they are not drinking, action should be taken to encourage water
intake.
160. Sufficient light needs to be present to be able to observe all animals during
inspections.
161. Upon identifying a distressed or injured sheep, the driver/attendant must provide
or seek assistance as soon as possible.
162. Only drivers or attendants who have the corresponding certificate of competence and
have received specific training in the field of animal emergency care, may attend
animals injured during transport.
163. Records should be kept and made available to the competent authority, of all sick,
injured or dead animals, including any disposed of during a journey. Where the
animals are transported to slaughter, the abattoir as well as the owner of the animals
will need a copy of the record.
164. Where the injury or sickness is such that the animal cannot complete the journey,
for example if it cannot stand unaided, the animal should be killed or unloaded
as soon as it is reasonability possible at an appropriate place.
165. Weak, ill or injured sheep should be identified to the person receiving them.

Better practices on care of sick and injured animals

166. Weak, ill or injured sheep that are able to walk, do not have broken limbs and are
not in pain should be assessed individually. They have a higher risk of poor
welfare, and should be transported only if necessary for the better management of
the animal, an under veterinary supervision.
167. Each sheep should be visible, so the design of vehicles, distribution of animals in
the vehicle and space allowance must allow for this.
168. Drivers should inspect all sheep as soon as practical after any unusual or difficult
road or weather conditions.

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169. The checking of animals should involve visual inspection and awareness of
auditory and olfactory cues that the animals have problems. Animal based
indicators of potential adverse effects on sheep welfare due to transport are shown
in Table 4.2.
170. Special care should be given to weak, ill or injured sheep that are still fit for
transport. This may include shortening the journey by transporting them directly to
an alternative destination, protecting from extreme weather, not mixing with
stronger sheep and not consigning to sale yards.
171. Transporters should have a minimum knowledge about common injuries or
diseases suffered by the animals during transport, and how to act in each case.
172. The transporter should record the results of the sheep’s inspection along the
journey.
173. In cases of injury, sickness or death, it may be relevant to inform the competent
authority of the region. This is especially important if any major infectious
disease is suspected. Journey plans include the addresses, e-mail addresses and
telephone numbers of the competent authorities in each of the regions passed
through during the journey.
174. If a problem with the sheep is identified during transit, even when the problem is
rectified, additional checks should be made as necessary to ensure the welfare
of the consignment. Drivers should notify ahead for assistance if necessary.

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Table 4.2 Animal based (observational and clinical) indicators of the potential adverse
effects of transport on sheep (EFSA, 2011)

4.6
4.6 Emergencies
Emergency situations are by definition unexpected, and require immediate action. It is
important that drivers or other persons in charge have a plan on what to do, should an
emergency situation take place. The plan should include a series of emergency telephone
numbers, e.g. to obtain veterinary assistance.

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Better Practices during emergencies
175. In case of a mechanical breakdown of the tractor, the nature of the breakdown
should be determined and it should be estimated how long the repairs will take. If
the repairs cannot take place at the site of the breakdown or they will take an
extended period of time, arrangements for another tractor will have to be
made. Numerous factors need to be taken into consideration when determining
how long animals can safely be left on a stationary trailer:
o Weather – (e.g. sheep will do fine on a trailer for four hours in cool, low humidity
weather. In extreme summer heat and humidity, they will experience heat
stress quite quickly)
o Fitness of the animals
o Age of animals
o Time since last feeding and drinking
o Location of the delay (e.g. rural area vs. freeway)
o Time of day
o Safety of animals at current location
176. In the event of an accident, the transporter should:
a. Call the national road emergency number if the accident occurs on a public
roadway or if the emergency assistance is required for an on-farm accident.
Advise operator of:
o The location of the accident
o The fact that you have animals on-board
o The status of any loose animals
o Any known hazards
b. Set out emergency warning devices within 10 minutes of accident
c. Call the designated company contact. If the company has a dispatch checklist
for accidents, proceed through list. If not, inform the dispatcher of the location
of the accident, if there are any injuries, condition of animals, position of trailer,
number of vehicles involved and if first responders are on scene yet
d. Call other designated contacts according to company protocol. These could
include but are not limited to the insurance companies for the cargo and the
vehicle and the destination, and provide them with the same information
e. If the tractor and/or trailer are damaged and unable to move, proceed to point
g.
f. If damage is minor, the trailer is upright and there are no injuries, take photos
and record names and addresses of other people involved and witnesses
g. Herd any loose animals from the road and gather them in an area as far
away from traffic as possible
h. Locate accident reporting kit and camera. Take photos of accident as soon
as possible. Photographs should include photos of road conditions, vehicle
damage, trailer position, the overall accident scene, skid marks, curves,
intersections and where the vehicle left the road (if it did)
i. Provide as much protection and comfort for the animals as possible
j. When first responders arrive, the transporter should advise them of accident
details including any human injuries, the status of any loose animals, any
known hazards and the company’s emergency response plan. If available, the
transporter should let the authorities know if a company rescue trailer and
animal handling personnel are on the way and their estimated time of arrival.
Transporters must respect the chain of command at all times
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 k. Animals that have become injured during transport should be humanely killed
to prevent further pain or distress. This is particularly true where there is likely
to be an unacceptable delay in treating the source of pain, where the pain is
untreatable, or where transportation of the animal would aggravate the condition
to a significant extent. A veterinarian should be called to make the decision and
to kill the animal humanely.

Better practices on emergencies

177. In the case of a mechanical breakdown of the truck, or in the event of an accident,
see the chapter on 2.2.2 Contingency plans
178. In case of animals become injured during transport, see 4.6 Care of sick or injured
animals
179. During unexpected hot or cold climatic conditions, appropriate actions should be
taken as described in the chapter on 4.3 Climate Control
180. In the event of an accident, the transporter should undertake the actions in the Table
4.3

Table 4.3 Actions required in case of an accident whilst transporting animals

a. The national road emergency number is called if the accident occurs on a public
road or if emergency assistance is required for an on-farm accident.
b. The operator is advised of:
• The location of the accident
• The fact that there are animals on-board
• The status of any loose animals
• Any known hazards
c. Emergency warning devices are set out a.s.a.p. (preferably within 10 minutes of
the accident).
d. The designated company contact is called. If the company has a dispatch
checklist for accidents, this is followed by proceeding through the list. If not, the
dispatcher of the location of the accident is informed whether there are any
injuries, about the condition of animals, position of the trailer, number of
vehicles involved and whether first responders are on scene yet.
e. Other designated contacts are called according to the company protocol and
provided with the same information. These contacts could include, but are not
limited to, the insurance companies for the cargo and the vehicle and the
destination.
f. If the tractor and/or trailer are damaged and unable to move: proceeding to
next point. If damage is minor, the trailer is upright and there are no injuries:
photos are taken and names and addresses of other people involved and
witnesses are recorded.
g. Any loose horses are herded from the road and gathered in an area as far away
from traffic as possible.
h. Locate the accident reporting kit and take photos of the accident as soon as
possible. Photographs should include photos of road conditions, vehicle damage,
animals, trailer position, the overall accident scene, skid marks, curves,
intersections and where the vehicle left the road (if it did).
i. As much protection and comfort are provided for the animals as possible.

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j. Statements are released only to people of authorities. The driver must
remember that at this point he or she is the most visible company and industry
representative and must conduct himself or herself as such.
k. When first responders arrive, the driver advisee them of accident details
including any human injuries, the status of any loose animals, any known
hazards and the company’s emergency response plan. If available, the
transporter should let the authorities know if a company rescue trailer and
animal handling personnel are on the way and their estimated time of arrival.
Transporters must respect the chain of command at all times.

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5. Unloading animals

5.1 Introduction
Upon arrival at the final destination or control post unloading of the animals should be
undertaken as soon as possible. Unloading is part of the journey and the journey is only
complete when the last animal has been unloaded at the final destination.

Unloading is a stressful situation for transported animals due to the rapid changes of their
close environment. Unloading areas should be secure and provide a wide, clear and straight
path from the vehicle to the holding pens.

When performing unloading, it is also of particular importance to take into account the
mental and health status of the animal. Drivers and operators should be aware that some
animals may have become tired after a long journey and should be handled properly in
order to avoid any additional stress.

Handling skills required are similar to those for loading. The animals should be checked on
arrival to ensure that they are fine, that they didn´t suffer from their journey and if they
should receive an immediate attention. If necessary a veterinary help should be held
without any delay.

5.2. Layout of the unloading area

Good Practices on layout unloading area

181. The ramp should have a non-slip surface which is sufficiently resistant, with
panels or sidebars high enough to prevent animals falling or escaping during
unloading.
182. Ramp inclines should be no more than 26 degrees (which means that ramps should
have a maximum height of 50 cm measured 1 meter before the end of the
ramp). It is recommended to reduce the inclination during unloading, especially for
lambs. A way to decrease the inclination of the ramp is to increase the ramp length.
183. Ramps of more than 10 degrees must have foot battens to stop animals slipping.
184. The width of the unloading dock should be at least the width of the transport vehicle.
185. The driver should ensure that the ramp and the vehicle are properly aligned with
the unloading area, and that sheep cannot get trapped or injured by the gap between
the ramp and the vehicle.
186. Lifting platforms and upper floors shall have safety barriers so as to prevent sheep
falling or escaping during loading and unloading operations.

Better practices on layout unloading area

187. As animals prefer to walk slightly uphill rather than downhill, it is advisable to
maintain lower angles during unloading.
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188. The optimum unloading angle for all animals is ‘zero’, so various methods to
maintain the angle as low as possible have to be adopted (minimum height of the
dock depending on the type of trucks, lift, etc.).
189. Solid yard extensions should be used to cover any gaps between the unloading
ramp floor and the floor of the vehicle through which an animal or part of an animal
might slip.
190. Unloading ramp should be covered with straw to disguise any change of surface.
191. Ensure the animals can see where they are going and avoid moving them to
round sharp corners, particularly near the door of the vehicle they are being unloaded
from.
192. The height of railings on ramps and raceways should be of 1.2m, with no gaps
that might cause injury to the sheep or disrupt their movement to where they are
being taken.
193. Ramps need to be wide enough to ensure unrestricted movement and should be of
an appropriate slope for the class of sheep.
194. The unloading areas should be equipped with a mobile ramp in order to
increase the length of the ramp and thus facilitate the unloading operations.
195. The unloading areas should be fitted with rounded/smooth corners to prevent
animals being injured.

5.3 Handling of animals during unloading

Good Practices on handling during unloading

196. Enough time should be given to the animals during unloading so as to they can
adapt to the new situation (light, odours, etc.). Attempting to rush sheep during
unloading can be a cause of injuries and poor welfare.
197. Sheep should be unloaded in the same social group as they were in before they
were loaded onto the vehicle, and in accordance with the size of pen they are going
into.
198. If an animal is staying on the truck:
o If the animal is not sick/injured or trapped, check for any cause of disturbance,
gently stimulate and guide the animal with a stick preferably from outside
of the truck.
o If the animal is sick/injured or is still unable to move (generally criteria similar
to those for animals unfit to transport), inform the official veterinarian or the
animal welfare officer (in slaughterhouse) and follow their instructions.
o If the animal is trapped and needs to be freed, consider the safety (for both
animal and operator) to solve the problem before entering the vehicle.
199. Make it a priority to unload trucks with poor ventilation or other complications.
200. Park the truck in an area protected from adverse weather conditions (this
should be taken into account in the layout of the unloading area).
201. Take appropriate measures in order to limit the delay to less than one hour before
the animals can be housed or slaughtered.
202. If animals need to remain in a control post after the truck has departed, for instance
because they are injured or otherwise unfits to be transported, they need to
receive care and treatment.

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203. If an animal needs to be protected from further injury from other animals, the
confinement of that animal in an isolation pen should be adequate.

5.4 Care of animals following unloading

Unloading of sheep can cause serious stress and discomfort. It is important that
appropriate care is given to the animals, in particular when they have sustained injury
during transport.

Good practices on care following unloading

204. The driver of a vehicle should make sure that the area he has unloaded the sheep
into is secure and that they will not escape after he has left (this is especially
important if there is no one there to receive the animals at the destination).
205. The driver should ensure that all the relevant documents are left with the animals
at the place of arrival.
206. The welfare conditions of each consignment of animals shall be systematically
assessed by the animal welfare officer or a person reporting directly to the
animal welfare officer upon arrival in order to identify the priorities, in particular by
determining which animals have specific welfare needs and the corresponding
measures to be taken.
207. The animals should have access to food and water, except in the case where they
are unloaded at a slaughterhouse to be killed in a short time frame.
208. Fatigued, injured or sick animals should be held with visual and auditory contact
of their social group, or with a companion animal as isolation of individual sheep
from their peers is stressful.
209. Where it is necessary to emergency kill sheep, it is done promptly, safely and
humanely.
210. The animals to be slaughtered as a result of injuries or illness, detected at the time
of unloading, should be done by qualified personnel and killing methods set out
in Regulation 1099/2009.
211. The personnel involved in killing and related operations and the animal welfare officer
shall provide with a certificate of competence.
212. If it is not certain that a sheep is dead, then an approved method should be used
immediately to ensure death in a rapid and humane manner. If necessary,
bleeding-out or another technique should be used to ensure death in unconscious
sheep.
213. Where there is concern about the assessment of fitness for a subsequent journey,
veterinary advice should be sought.

Better practices on care following unloading

214. After the journey, feedback on sheep welfare should be provided by the driver
to the consignor of the sheep.
215. An “animal welfare officer” should check the animal welfare during the unloading and
maintains records of the check.
216. Humane killing should be done with the minimum number of people present to
avoid distractions.

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217. The sheep should be handled carefully and be appropriately restrained so that
it is not unnecessarily distressed or alarmed. Where sheep are able to walk, they
should be handled in a race or crush.

5.5 Cleaning and disinfection

Bio-security measures are necessary to prevent the spreading of diseases. A clean
vehicle is also required because stress during transport may affect the immune system of
the animals, and make them more sensitive to disease.

Good practices for truck cleaning and disinfection

218. Trucks should be cleaned directly after unloading, and before they enter the
overnight parking space.
219. Before cleaning and disinfecting, dirty bedding should be removed and conveyed
to the manure treatment facility or the manure storage area. The truck compartment
should be cleaned preferably using high pressure warm water (>70 bars)
220. During cleaning the operator should wear protective waterproof clothing
221. Walls and compartment barriers which are clean but still wet should be disinfected
using authorised disinfectant products
222. The cleaning and disinfection area must have sufficient hot and cold water
available to clean the maximum number of trucks that can stay each day
223. Cleaning and disinfection areas should be free of obstacles around the truck within a
2 meter perimeter. Lighting must be available at night time
224. 400 lux should be provided at the level of objects to be cleaned
225. All washing equipment and products must be securely stored and protected from
weather
226. Upper decks must be cleaned first
227. The driver must keep a record of each cleaning/disinfection indicating the trade name
of the disinfectant product used and the doses

Better practices for truck cleaning and disinfection

228. The driver should have access to a list of washing and disinfection areas in
Europe, including their conditions of use, opening hours, availability of fresh water
and fresh litter.
229. Lorry wash areas should be 25 m long to accommodate trucks, with a 5 to 7% slope
to drain waste water to the relevant collecting system
230. There should be a checklist on the truck with the main points required for adequate
cleaning, including the bedding material used, water quality, approved program of
cleaning and disinfection, the method of inspection, correctives measures, detergent
and the disinfectant agents approved and used.
231. A standard operation procedure for cleaning and disinfection should be present at the
unloading facilities, and should be applied.
232. Special attention should be given to disinfecting the tyres and the underneath
of the truck, especially before travelling back to areas/countries with a low disease
status
233. There should be an external lift or stage or platform so that the upper parts of the
lorry + roof can be cleaned from outside.
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234. There should be side protections in open disinfecting premises, so that no
pollution from the lorry will contaminate far away surroundings

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6. Stay at Control Posts, markets and assembly
centres
6.1. Introduction

The maximum permitted travelling time is of 29 hours for sheep and 19 hours for
unweaned lambs, with a tolerance in all cases of 2 additional hours to reach the
final destination. This additional 2 hours are exceptional only (e.g. in cases of traffic
jams) and are not to be included in the planning. At the end of the legal maximum
permitted travelling time, the animals must reach the final destination and shall be
unloaded for slaughter (in the case of slaughter animals) or for a resting period of 24 hours,
which in ongoing journeys has to happen at an approved Control Post before travelling
further. The Regulation also establishes a maximum duration for long journeys, which
varies according to the species and the age of the animals, and requires a specific resting
period (Table 6.1).
Table 6.1 Maximum permitted travelling times for cattle and unweaned calves (Regulation
EC 1/2005).
Maximum duration of Maximum duration
Minimum duration
the first period of the second period
of the rest period
including loading including unloading

1 hour with access

Adult sheep 14 hours 14 hours
to water

1 hour with access

Non-weaned lambs 9 hours 9 hours
to water

Control Posts are facilities which may be attended and inspected by an official
veterinarian, and which have been approved by competent authorities based on the
requirement of a specific EU requirements (Council Regulation EC No 1255/97). At the
control post the animals may rest, be fed and watered and cared for during long journeys.
Assembly centres are places such as holdings, collection centres and markets, at which
animals from different holdings may be sold and grouped together to form consignments.
Regarding animal welfare and health, the main risks are similar for control posts, markets
and assembly centres (see below).
Control Posts must be designed, organised and managed to accommodate animals for rest,
feeding, watering, and care during long journeys. Housing conditions and staff working at
the Control Posts should guarantee that the animals transported receive adequate care
according to their status and continue their journey under optimum welfare conditions
including compliance with animal-health requirements and bio-security measures.
Therefore, resting periods in Control Posts must ensure the possibility for all
animals to get rest, food and water at the level of their needs. Then the use of
Control Posts is an efficient mean to improve animal welfare and benefit return for the
economic operators during very long transport. Control Posts can be approved for pigs,
cattle, sheep and/or horses. The booking of the Control Post has to be done before the

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beginning of the transport and must be indicated in the journey log. A current list of
Control Posts can be found on the internet at the following address:
https://ec.europa.eu/food/sites/food/files/animals/docs/aw_list_of_approved_control_po
sts.pdf

Main risks of poor welfare at control posts, as well as at assembly centres and markets are
related to:
o Cross-border spread of infectious diseases. Risks are due to the mixing in the
same place of animals of different origin, not only because of the simultaneous
presence of the animals in the Control Post, but also due to poor cleaning and
disinfection procedures between successive consignments. The European regulation
establishes rules and procedures, applying to a list of diseases. However, the Control
Post owner and staff, transporters and the official veterinarian in charge should also
be aware of the possibility that non-listed diseases may spread and should be therefore
well informed and trained so as to be able to detect non listed diseases, as well as
symptoms or changes in the behaviour of the animals that could indicate health
problems.
o Inappropriate/rough/hasty unloading or loading procedures which can cause
stress and injuries
o Inadequate space allowances and/or pen sizes in the Control Post that can
compromise resting conditions and cause competition and aggressive behaviour
between animals.
o Inappropriate feeding and watering, and facilities that could cause animals
frustration or health problems due to hunger and/or dehydration
Relevant recommendations can be found in High Quality Control Post Handbook
(www.controlpost.eu)

Good practice regarding control posts and assembly centres

235. All control posts are required to have a closing day for cleaning and disinfection
after 6 days of usage. It is good practice to undertake this during any available break
in occupation even after less than 6 days of continuous use.
236. A Proof of an Appointment and a Proof of an Acceptance of the animals by the
control post must be shown to the ‘loading vet’ (the veterinary officer approving the
journey).
237. Only one assembly centre is used during long journeys, and any resting legally
required during a very long transport must be for a full 24 hours at an approved
control post.

6.2 Housing

Good practices on housing

238. Building insulation is required if the housing is to be heated and frost-free
(particularly in fully slatted floored houses).
239. Insulating materials such as bricks on the walls are recommended as very young
animals are highly sensitive to cold.

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240. To keep inside temperature above the indicated minimum, additional heating may
be applied if necessary, especially for young animals. If the temperature is higher
than the indicated maximum, additional measures have to be taken to cool down
the animals, such as more floor space, additional fans for ventilation.
241. Indoor holding facilities must have adequate mechanical or natural ventilation
to provide fresh air and to keep the effective environmental temperature within the
comfort zone of the animals as far as possible (see also Table 6.1 for better
practices). Air should be able to freely circulate above the heads of the animals.
242. A group of sheep will spontaneously produce a lot of heat, so the temperature of their
housing needs to be monitored at regular intervals.
243. The exact number of sheep that each pen can accommodate should be clearly
specified.
244. The pens used at the holding place should be constructed so that sheep in the same
social groups prior to loading can be kept together.
245. The holding location should be equipped with mobile barriers in order to allow the
maintenance of separated groups of animals according to provenance and animal
species. These barriers must be constructed in such way that they cannot harm or
injure the animals.
246. All pen materials should be non-toxic, cleanable and able to be disinfected.
247. Floor material must be non-slippery, cleanable, sufficiently drained and
appropriate for the animal species.
248. Straw bedding should be provided in the pens.
o Ewes: 0.5kg/head
o Lambs: between 0.20 and 0.25 kg/head.
249. Diffuse natural or proper artificial lighting should be provided throughout from
the unloading/ loading area to the resting area.
250. The lighting should be around 40 lux in the regular pens (reading a newspaper
is possible), but it must be stronger in the nursery pen (250 lux), milking parlour
and unloading area (100 to 150 lux).
251. Care should be paid in order to avoid any light contrast, light reflection on metal
equipment, or high luminosity because this causes animals to stop, and sometimes
to turn back.
252. At least one fire extinguisher (solid, liquid, gas) must be available in each building
according to the quantity and type of combustible materials present.

Better practices on housing

253. The temperature in the building should be maintained within the thermo-neutral
zone, see Table 6.1.

Table 6.1 Better practice for temperature ranges in farm building, minimizing health
problems for animals.

Animal categories Minimum temperature Maximum temperature

Ewes 6°C 26°C

Lambs 14°C 21°C

254. Space allowance in each pen should be appropriate for the animal species held.
Recommended values are given in Table 6.2.
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Table 6.2 Better practice for minimum space allowances at a resting place.
Animal categories (m2/head)
Ewes 1
Sheep
Lambs 0.5

6.3 Feeding and watering

Good practices on feeding and watering

255. Feed must be of good quality, palatable and appropriate to the species and age
of the animals.
256. Feeding equipment shall be constructed and installed so that food contamination
and competition among animals are minimised.
257. Feeding equipment should not be an obstacle or cause of injuries to the animals
and it must be cleaned and if necessary disinfected.
258. Feed shall be stored in a clean, dry and labelled (visually identifiable) facility.
259. Feed storage facilities are used for feed only, unless feed is stored in closed
containers/packaging material.
260. No chemicals (for instance pesticides, biocides, veterinary pharmaceuticals) shall
be present in feed storage facilities.
261. Animals should have free access to fresh potable water, delivered ad libitum.
262. Drinking devices must be designed and positioned in a way that is appropriate
for the species, the age and the size of animals.
263. To avoid freezing, water pipes should be insulated and checked during cold
weather to ensure that water is available. This check should also be carried out prior
to the arrival of the sheep and regularly during their visit in very cold weather.
264. Drinking bowls should be emptied and cleaned regularly, especially in warm
weather conditions.
265. Drinkers should not create obstacles for animals, workers, machines and
mechanical systems.
266. Drinkers should not be placed next to feeding or resting areas, to prevent
wetting of food and bedding by water leaks.
267. Re-supplying of the vehicle with water and feed at the Control Post should be
done before continuing the journey.
268. The condition and state of the animals shall be inspected by a staff member of
the holding facility on their arrival and at least once every 12 hours during their stay.
269. Sheep should be assessed for fitness by a qualified, independent person, before
continue travelling.
270. If in doubt over the fitness for transport of one or more sheep, veterinary
assistance should be sought to make a decision before continuation of the
journey.
271. If a sheep is assessed to be unfit for the intended subsequent journey, proper
arrangements for the care, treatment or humane killing of the animal should be
made.

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Better practices on feeding and watering
272. Only milk replacers specifically formulated for lambs should be used at places
were animals are temporarily rested
273. Required milk replacer volumes increase with the age and size of the lambs, see
Table 6.3.

Table 6.3 Recommended feeding programme for lambs using milk replacer* (FAO, 2011).
Age (days) Birth weight Volume (ml) per Feeds/day
feed
5-14 2.0 to 2.5 kg 250 2 or 3 equal
feedings
2.6 to 4.0 kg 400 2 or 3 equal
feedings
15-28 2.0 to 2.5 kg 350 2 or 3 equal
feedings
2.6 to 4.0 kg 600 2 or 3 equal
feedings
29-42 2.0 to 2.5 kg 250 2 or 3 equal
feedings
2.6 to 4.0 kg 400 2 equal feedings
43-56 2.0 to 2.5 kg 150 2 or 3 equal
feedings
2.6 to 4.0 kg 200 2 equal feedings
*Mix 1 part dry milk replacer with 4 parts of warm water (39ºC) for lambs just before
feeding.

274. Gradual withdrawal of milk replacer from day 43 to a complete stop by day 56
is recommended.
275. Offer starter feed from 5th day of life to 5 months or continue as long as needed.
276. Good quality hay should be provided from day 10. The minimum quantity of hay
available should be that required for body maintenance as shown in Table 6.4.

Table 6.4 Hay quantity required for maintenance.

Animal categories Kg/feed Feeds/day

Ewes 3 1
Lambs 1 to 2 1

277. If animals are fed ad libitum, at least 1 feeding place per 10 animals must be
available in group housing.
278. If animals are not fed ad libitum, all animals in the pen must be able to eat at
the same time. The minimum feeding space per head is given in Table 6.5.

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Table 6.5 Suggested feeding space per head to minimize the competition between
animals.
Animal categories Feeder/trough space (m/head)
Linear Circular
Ewes 0.40 0.40
Lambs 0.30 0.30

279. The drinker height must be appropriate to the size of each category of animals that
are allowed to be housed in the Control Post, see Table 6.6.

Table 6.6 Suggested height of drinkers above the floor

Animal categories Height of water bowls (m)
Ewes 0.50
Lambs < 30 kg 0.30
Lambs > 30 Kg 0.40

280. An attendant shall check animal welfare every 12 hours during their stay at the
staging point and shall maintain records of their checks. He shall determine which
animals have specific welfare needs and take the necessary measures.
281. Sheep that are rested on a journey will frequently not drink, unless they have just
been fed, so feeding sheep during a rest period may be essential to stimulate
drinking.
282. Special requirements for un-weaned animals should be considered when
feeding lambs at arrival. Liquid feeding of un-weaned lambs requires the observation,
and often the handling, of each individual animal. It also requires attention to
hygienic presentation of the feed, which has to be made up to the correct temperature
and solution strength in order to avoid digestive problems.
283. When sheep are gathered at a holding point before loading, they should stay
without feed and water for maximum 18 hours. For ewes with lambs or pregnant
ewes, this is maximum 14 hours maximum.
284. All the animals must be provided with feed and water just after the arrival to
the destination, but this is essential in sheep more than three months pregnant (third
trimester).

6.4 Biosecurity, cleaning and disinfection

Transport conditions impose a close contact between animals and can increase the risk of
pathogens spreading. Biosecurity is based on good hygiene practices aimed to limit
pathogen development and spread, logistic management to prevent contacts between
different consignments, and global management of the location to minimise sanitary risks
and hazards. The owner of the location (but also the transporter) has to ensure the bio-
security criteria are followed in order to protect the animals that are hosted.
Regulation (EC) 1255/97 sets down the requirements regarding the location, construction
and operation of control posts that aim to achieve an appropriate level of biosecurity. Local
competent authorities check that these requirements are fulfilled before approving control
posts.

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Good practices regarding biosecurity at control posts
285. Hygienic routing of transport is organised to prevent external transport (feed
deliveries, removal transport of waste) to cross internal transport (animals). Different
routes are clearly indicated to separate ‘clean’ and ‘dirty’ routes to: animal
buildings, lorry wash station, feed and bedding storage, and manure storage. If
physical separation is not possible, transports are separated in time. A plan to show
the movement of all such vehicles or time separation to prevent cross overs should
be made available.
286. The control post is divided into zones to allow the Control Post owner to plan for
traffic patterns, work organization and biosecurity measures. Zones are large enough
to permit later expansion without encroaching on other areas. Control posts can be
divided into three concentric rings or activity zones: Zone 1 office and main entrance;
Zone 2 accommodation for drivers, store house and truck wash; Zone 3 animal
houses, truck parking and waste storages (See Figures 6.1 and 6.2).
287. Traffic areas and truck paths between entrance, (un)loading areas, truck wash and
parking are planned according to the maximum size for trucks, trailer and semitrailers
and to their radius of curvature.

Figure 6.1 Example of the organization of a control post to optimize biosecurity

288. Dead animals are stored in a separate building or sealed container (chilled)
and these facilities must be paved or floored with appropriate material. They should
be cleaned and disinfected after every use. Carcasses are transferred to vehicles for
transportation to the site of disposal or incineration in a manner that ensures these
vehicles do not have to enter the premises of the control post (Regulation (EC) N.
1774/2002). Bedding and waste from these buildings should be removed and
disposed of in an appropriate manner.
289. Animal buildings are clearly marked. Control post staff should be the only persons
allowed to enter into these buildings of the control post. All people entering the
building have to wear clean clothes and shoes (or one-use disposable clothing) or
walk through footbath facilities to disinfect the shoes before entering into the control
post. The driver has to fulfil this procedure to handle animals into the control post.
Bathroom should be available to visitors and drivers to wash their hands and
themselves.

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Figure 6.2 Possible organizational layout of a control post.

290. The cleaning, removal of solid waste, washing and the disinfection of the
building and equipment must be completed within 24h from the time of
removal of the animals from the pens. Buildings and equipment should be dry before
a new batch of animals can be housed again. Cleaning of barriers and flooring (pens
and ways) should be done using high pressure water (40-200 bars, 25 to 70 l/min).
291. Warm water with detergent is specially recommended for metallic barriers.
Cleaning of drinkers and feeders can be done as partitions, floors and walls by using
warm high pressure water, or if possible by soaking equipment 20 to 30 minutes in
warm water and detergent before pressure cleaning. Foaming can improve the
washing. When pens wall and barriers are clean and still humid, disinfection should
be done.
292. Authorized disinfectant products should be sprayed according to manufacturers’
recommendations. Only authorised products (under national agreements) can be
used: for national lists of products, refer to official veterinarian and check for AFNOR
reference (NFT 72-150/151, 72-170/171, 72-200/201, 72-180/181).

Better practices regarding biosecurity at control posts

293. Changing rooms separated from building in which animals are kept should be
available both for co-workers, drivers and visitors (veterinarians, inspectors, etc.). A
basin with running hot and cold water, soap, disinfectants, clean towels are available

Page | 59
 in the changing rooms. The control post shall have showers, toilets and leisure
room for drivers and a well-kept first aid kit.
294. The control post should have communication facilities available for drivers
(telephone, fax, internet) and a website including: the name of the contact person of
the control post, phone number, e-mail address, address, route planner, opening
times, availability of facilities, language spoken, service available for driver
(sanitation, leisure facilities, etc.) and health service. A phone list of local medical
practitioners, hospitals, police, fire department, veterinarians must be available.
295. Water supply to animals should be potable and not become contaminated. Any water
storage tanks must be covered and capable of being disinfected if necessary. Water
supply systems should be capable of being flushed with a sanitizer if
required.
296. Storage of feed and bedding must be kept secure and not capable of becoming
contaminated. Tractors and other mechanical equipment used for feeding and
bedding should be cleansed and disinfected after each use.

6.5 Emergency

In case of emergencies occurring while animals are at the control post, the contingency
plan of the control post and that of the transporter are activated.

Good practices during emergencies at control posts

297. If there are not enough pens according to the number of pens in the truck, no more
than two pens of the truck are mixed. Behaviour is observed and injured or
stressed animals are isolated
298. If an animal shows signs of colic (e.g. profuse sweating, continuous rolling, turning
head towards the belly, persistent movement and getting up and down violently,
lying down frequently), which is one of the most common problems, veterinary
assistance is sought immediately. It is avoided as much as possible to stress the
animal.
299. If several trucks arrive together at a control post with animals of different sanitary
status:
o The competent authorities are contacted for official recommendations, also
when one or more trucks create a biosecurity hazard.
o Animals of different sanitary status are isolated in different areas of the site.
300. If a local sanitary crisis occurs when animals are expected at the control post:
o The competent authorities are contacted for official recommendations, also
when one or more trucks create a biosecurity hazard.
o The driver and the owner of the transported animals are informed before the
arrival. Mobile disinfection systems (wheel splash-boards) are used when the
truck enters the control post.

Better practices during emergencies at control posts

301. If animals need to remain in the control post after the truck has departed, for
instance because they are injured or otherwise unfit to be transported, they are kept
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in a separate area. The local competent authorities are informed of these animals.
No pens are disinfected whilst animals are still inside them. Care is taken not to cause
avoidable stress.

Page | 61
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https://ec.europa.eu/food/sites/food/files/safety/docs/sci-com_scah_out71_en.pdf. Accessed 26
May 2017.

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This Guide was produced by the Animal
Transport Guides consortium,
led by Wageningen Livestock Research