A reviewoftheroadtransport ofcattle

THEliterature covering thetransport ofcattle isextensive. Rather thanattempt toreview every paper published onthe subject this paper tries topresent thestate ofknowledge with particular reference toroadtransport within theEuropean Union(EU), andtomakerecommendations based uponit. Themorerecent papers onaparticular topic arereferenced. Theliterature onanimal transport intheEUhasbeen reviewed byHails (1978) andConnell (1984), andthat oncattletransport specifically, byLeach (1981), Tarrant (1990), Warriss (1990), Tarrant andGrandin (1993) andMorris (1994). Abibliography ofpublications from1984 to1994covering thetransport andhandling oflivestock hasbeencompiled byBerry (1994). Almost alladult cattle aretransported atsometimein their lives. Within theEUthemajority ofcattle aretransported byroadandmostofthemorerecent research hasdealt with this formoftransport. Withasteady decline inthenumber ofslaughterhouses intheUKandtheEUitisprobable that transport distances andtimes areincreasing. Ahigh percentageofcattle arealso still marketed through live auction markets, aprocess which extends transport times andmultiplies thenumber ofoccasions that animals areloaded, unloaded, driven, introduced tounfamiliar environments andmixed with unfamiliar animals. Allofthese factors combine toaffect theanimals adversely inavariety ofways. Loading, unloadinganddriving areparticularly associated with physical damageandinjury. Mixing groups ofunfamiliar animals leads to anincrease inthenumber ofsocial interactions which inturn maylead topsychological stress andphysical exhaustion. These stresses areassociated with physiological changes which lead topoorwelfare, reduced meatquality andeconomic losses. Longjourneys inevitably involve thewithdrawal of foodandwaterforextended periods oftime, leading to weight loss anddehydration. reported that mortality during rail transport wastwice that during roadtransport. Mortality rates during seatransport canbehigh, andarevariously attributed tolack ofappropriatefeed andwater, toohigh astocking density andinadequate temperature and/or ventilation (Hails 1978, Connell 1984). Weight loss