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...
Main Authors: | , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
MDPI AG
2023-11-01
|
Series: | Animals |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/21/3393 |
_version_ | 1797632214705373184 |
---|---|
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. |
first_indexed | 2024-03-11T11:34:49Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-8fc9836bfc174c65a4d45e44f823a791 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 2076-2615 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-03-11T11:34:49Z |
publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
publisher | MDPI AG |
record_format | Article |
series | Animals |
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 |
work_keys_str_mv | AT kellybuckhamsporer currentknowledgeonthetransportationbyroadofcattleincludingunweanedcalves AT bernadetteearley currentknowledgeonthetransportationbyroadofcattleincludingunweanedcalves AT soniamarti currentknowledgeonthetransportationbyroadofcattleincludingunweanedcalves |