Welfare of cattle during transport
Open accessAbstract
In the framework of its Farm to Fork Strategy, the Commission is undertaking a comprehensive evaluation of the animal welfare legislation. The present Opinion deals with protection of cattle (including calves) during transport. Welfare of cattle during transport by road is the main focus, but other means of transport are also covered. Current practices related to transport of cattle during the different stages (preparation, loading/unloading, transit and journey breaks) are described. Overall, 11 welfare consequences were identified as being highly relevant for the welfare of cattle during transport based on severity, duration and frequency of occurrence: group stress, handling stress, heat stress, injuries, motion stress, prolonged hunger, prolonged thirst, respiratory disorders, restriction of movement, resting problems and sensory overstimulation. These welfare consequences and their animal-based measures are described. A variety of hazards, mainly relating to inexperienced/untrained handlers, inappropriate handling, structural deficiencies of vehicles and facilities, poor driving conditions, unfavourable microclimatic and environmental conditions, and poor husbandry practices leading to these welfare consequences were identified. The Opinion contains general and specific conclusions relating to the different stages of transport for cattle. Recommendations to prevent hazards and to correct or mitigate welfare consequences have been developed. Recommendations were also developed to define quantitative thresholds for microclimatic conditions within the means of transport and spatial thresholds (minimum space allowance). The development of welfare consequences over time was assessed in relation to maximum journey duration. The Opinion covers specific animal transport scenarios identified by the European Commission relating to transport of unweaned calves, cull cows, the export of cattle by livestock vessels, the export of cattle by road, roll-on-roll-off ferries and 'special health status animals', and lists welfare concerns associated with these.
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It is advised that unweaned calves consume at least 6 L of milk (replacer) per day and are not fasted for longer than 12 h.
“To meet their physiological needs, it is advised that unweaned calves consume at least 6 L of milk (replacer) per day [6] and are not fasted for longer than 12 h [7].”
From Effects of age and feeding protocols on the metabolic and physiological condition of unweaned calves during and after long-distance transport (2026) · cites this paper as [7]
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References 441 · Cited by 64
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- Authors
- (AHAW), E. P. O. A. H. A. W., Nielsen, S. S., Alvarez, J., Bicout, D. J., Calistri, P., Canali, E., Drewe, J. A., Garin‐Bastuji, B., Gonzales Rojas, J. L., Gortázar Schmidt, C., Michel, V., Miranda Chueca, M. Á., Padalino, B., Pasquali, P., Roberts, H. C., Spoolder, H., Stahl, K., Velarde, A., Viltrop, A., Winckler, C., Earley, B., Edwards, S., Faucitano, L., Marti, S., de La Lama, G. C. M., Costa, L. N., Thomsen, P. T., Ashe, S., Mur, L., Van der Stede, Y., & Herskin, M.
- Affiliations
- University of Copenhagen (DK)
- Aarhus University (DK)
- ORCID
- Venue
- EFSA Journal
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2022-09
- Volume
- 20
- Issue
- 9
- Pages
- e07442-e07442
- ISSN
- 1831-4732 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC9449995
- OpenAlex
- W4295022916
- Cited by
- 64
- References
- 441
- Citations by year
- 2026: 16 · 2025: 15 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 16 · 2022: 3
- FWCI
- 13.27
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- other-oa
- Locations
- EFSA Journal (publishedVersion, other-oa)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nd)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Zaguan (Universidad de Zaragoza) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
- Cross Connect (Southern Cross University) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- HAL (submittedVersion)
- Archivio Istituzionale della Ricerca (Universita Degli Studi Di Milano) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
- Archivio istituzionale della ricerca (Alma Mater Studiorum Università di Bologna) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nd)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Research at the University of Copenhagen (University of Copenhagen) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nd)
- Scopus (Elsevier) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc)
- IRTA (Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentaries) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nd)
- Funders
- European Food Safety Authority
- Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, UK Government
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Veterinary › Small Animals › Animal Behavior and Welfare Studies
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Animal Science and Zoology › Effects of Environmental Stressors on Livestock
- Social Sciences › Law › Animal Law and Welfare
- Keywords
- cattle welfare, animal transport, road transport, heat stress, handling stress, microclimate, pre-weaned calves, cull cows, travel time, welfare effects, animal welfare legislation, Farm to Fork strategy
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