Farmers warned to keep livestock safe on the move during heatwaves
WITH record temperatures recorded last week, and more forecast over the summer, farmers are being advised on how to safely transport their livestock during hot weather.
The National Farmers Union has reminded anyone moving animals of their legal responsibilites, as well as recommending guidance for best practice.
GOOD PRACTICE
Keep the journey as short as possible and plan your route/time properly, according to weather conditions and likelihood of delays.
Reduce stocking density wherever possible and maximise manual or automatic ventilation systems.
Check animals during the journey and meet their needs (e.g. water) if safe to do so.
Make sure the animal is fit to travel (e.g. not heavily pregnant or very young, ill or injured).
Give due consideration for animals with full fleece or heavy coats (e.g. travel in cooler times of day, reduce stocking density or avoid travelling altogether if possible).
LEGAL RESPONSIBILITIES EU Law 1/2005 – Protection of animals during transport (which still applies in UK)
Means of transport must be maintained and operated to protect from extreme temperatures and adverse changes in climatic conditions.
Animals must only be transported in conditions where temperature can be maintained within appropriate range for the entire journey, with regard for the species of animal.
For all long journeys of more than eight hours (more than 12 hours in UK law):
Water supply within the container to be provided whenever necessary and so that each animal may have access.
Ventilation (passive or active) systems capable of maintaining temperatures between 5°c and 30°c +/- 5°c tolerance, when stationary or moving.
It is an offence to transport in ways which cause or are likely to cause unnecessary suffering (this includes hot weather).
Transport in conditions and by means appropriate for the species concerned.
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN IN PRACTICE?
The NFU says it is not currently a legal requirement to avoid transporting in external temperatures greater than 30°c or to provide water for all journeys, and internal temperature limits stated above only apply to long journeys greater than 12 hours.
“Nevertheless, it is highly inadvisable to transport during the warmest hours of the day during a heatwave, as the livestock compartment will rapidly heat once animals are loaded,” said an NFU spokesperson.
They added: “Both active and passive ventilation systems will be challenged by the high ambient external temperatures, even when a vehicle is moving.
“Transportation of unacclimatised animals in very warm weather increases the likelihood of adverse consequences and places greater pressure on a transporter’s legal responsibility to protect welfare, which may unexpectedly be increased by factors outside their direct control e.g. traffic delays.”