Current Knowledge on the Transportation by Road of Cattle, including Unweaned Calves

Transport conditions have the potential to alter the physiological responses of animals to the psychological or physical stress of transport. Transportation may introduce multiple physical and psychological stressors to unweaned calves and adult cattle, including noise, overcrowding, food and water...

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Main Authors: Kelly Buckham-Sporer, Bernadette Earley, Sonia Marti
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-11-01
Series:Animals
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/21/3393
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author Kelly Buckham-Sporer
Bernadette Earley
Sonia Marti
author_facet Kelly Buckham-Sporer
Bernadette Earley
Sonia Marti
author_sort Kelly Buckham-Sporer
collection DOAJ
description Transport conditions have the potential to alter the physiological responses of animals to the psychological or physical stress of transport. Transportation may introduce multiple physical and psychological stressors to unweaned calves and adult cattle, including noise, overcrowding, food and water deprivation, extreme temperatures, commingling with unfamiliar animals, handling by unfamiliar humans, and being placed in a novel environment upon arrival. Apart from these factors, the type of road and even driving skill may affect the welfare of animals. One of the concerns regarding cattle transport is that the handling and marketing of animals prior to a journey may lengthen the period of feed withdrawal. Furthermore, feed withdrawal can impact animal welfare through hunger and metabolic stress. Transportation is also associated with a decrease in animal performance as well as an increase in the incidence of bovine respiratory disease. It is well established that the transportation of cattle is a stressor that causes a quantifiable response; however, excessive stress during transport resulting in physiological or pathological changes can be reduced with best management practices. The objective of this review was to analyse the available scientific literature pertaining to the transport by road of cattle, including unweaned calves.
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spelling doaj.art-8fc9836bfc174c65a4d45e44f823a7912023-11-10T14:57:58ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152023-11-011321339310.3390/ani13213393Current Knowledge on the Transportation by Road of Cattle, including Unweaned CalvesKelly Buckham-Sporer0Bernadette Earley1Sonia Marti2Animal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre (AGRIC), Teagasc, Grange, Dunsany, C15 PW93 Co. Meath, IrelandAnimal & Grassland Research and Innovation Centre (AGRIC), Teagasc, Grange, Dunsany, C15 PW93 Co. Meath, IrelandRuminant Production Program, IRTA, Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries, Torre Marimon, 08140 Caldes de Montbui, Barcelona, SpainTransport conditions have the potential to alter the physiological responses of animals to the psychological or physical stress of transport. Transportation may introduce multiple physical and psychological stressors to unweaned calves and adult cattle, including noise, overcrowding, food and water deprivation, extreme temperatures, commingling with unfamiliar animals, handling by unfamiliar humans, and being placed in a novel environment upon arrival. Apart from these factors, the type of road and even driving skill may affect the welfare of animals. One of the concerns regarding cattle transport is that the handling and marketing of animals prior to a journey may lengthen the period of feed withdrawal. Furthermore, feed withdrawal can impact animal welfare through hunger and metabolic stress. Transportation is also associated with a decrease in animal performance as well as an increase in the incidence of bovine respiratory disease. It is well established that the transportation of cattle is a stressor that causes a quantifiable response; however, excessive stress during transport resulting in physiological or pathological changes can be reduced with best management practices. The objective of this review was to analyse the available scientific literature pertaining to the transport by road of cattle, including unweaned calves.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/21/3393transportweaned calvesunweaned calvesanimal welfarewelfare indicators
spellingShingle Kelly Buckham-Sporer
Bernadette Earley
Sonia Marti
Current Knowledge on the Transportation by Road of Cattle, including Unweaned Calves
Animals
transport
weaned calves
unweaned calves
animal welfare
welfare indicators
title Current Knowledge on the Transportation by Road of Cattle, including Unweaned Calves
title_full Current Knowledge on the Transportation by Road of Cattle, including Unweaned Calves
title_fullStr Current Knowledge on the Transportation by Road of Cattle, including Unweaned Calves
title_full_unstemmed Current Knowledge on the Transportation by Road of Cattle, including Unweaned Calves
title_short Current Knowledge on the Transportation by Road of Cattle, including Unweaned Calves
title_sort current knowledge on the transportation by road of cattle including unweaned calves
topic transport
weaned calves
unweaned calves
animal welfare
welfare indicators
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/21/3393
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