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| CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS |
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| WEDNESDAY, APRIL 26, 2006 | |
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TODAY'S RESEARCH FINDINGS... |
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Dr. Morris Villarroel Universidad Policnica de Madrid Emiliano Barral 5C, 3A Madrid, Spain 28043
Tel: +34 91-415-4529
Morris Villarroel has been carrying out research on animal transport in Spain for the past six years, first at the University of Zaragoza (Spain) and currently at the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid.
He has participated in several European projects on animal transport and its relation with animal welfare as well as meat quality. Most recently he has carried out work with Peter Kettlewell (ADAS) and Malcolm Mitchell (Roslin Welfare Associates), funded by DEFRA (UK) to analyse the transport conditions of livestock (pigs, sheep and calves) in a hot climate under different ventilation systems.
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“Behavior of Pigs and Lambs Dr. Morris
VILLARROEL
Although some physiological reactions to transport have been well studied in several domestic species, less is known about behavioural patterns during the journey. External stressors during transport include noise levels and vibrations and the characteristics of the circulating air flows (temperature, relative humidity, pressure and wind). As part of the Defra funded project AW0815, an in depth analysis of pig behaviour was made during transport for two 8 h journeys in the summer (July) of 2004 (in Spain), taking into account their vertical (lying or standing) and horizontal (parallel or perpendicular to traffic) positions during the trip and whether animals were standing, walking or lying. Two weeks later a similar study was carried out on lambs. Video cameras were set up in one pen above the floor loaded with the animals. For statistical analysis, three periods were compared, the first two hours of the journey (period 1), the rest period where the truck was not moving (period 2) and the remaining two hours of the journey (period 3).
The number of pigs lying down varied significantly among the three transport periods, with more lying in period 2. The number of pigs in a parallel position to the direction of traffic also changed significantly among the three periods, with more in period 3. The number of animals that moved was also different in the three periods, and slightly higher in the resting period (period 2), which was also when we observed more agonistic interactions were observed, mostly involving one of the pigs who bit neighbours. It was more difficult to observe the number of lambs lying down or sitting (than with the pigs), due to the quality of the image and the number of lambs (n=40). The number of animals standing varied significantly with the period, being much lower in period 2 (more standing during transport in periods 1 and 3). The number of animals parallel to the direction of traffic was significantly different in the three, being higher in period 1.
In conclusion, behavioural analyses during journeys under hot weather conditions in Spain for both pigs and sheep demonstrated that the animals preferred to remain standing while the vehicle was in motion and the majority only began to lie down while the vehicle was at rest. More animals tended to lie down as the journey progressed but other welfare indicators and environmental measurements suggested that animal welfare was not seriously affected.
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Dr.
Malcolm Mitchell, Roslin Welfare Consultants 12 Charlton Grove Roslin, Midlothian EH25 9NX UK
Tel: +44 0131 440 27 66 Malcolm.mitchell5@btinternet.com
In 2005
Malcolm and Peter both parted company with their respective research
organisations (Roslin Institute and Silsoe Research Institute
respectively). Malcolm is now based at the Scottish Agricultural
College in Edinburgh, Scotland as well as heading up Roslin Welfare
Consultants and Peter is with ADAS based at Boxworth in England. Dr.
Mitchell is a regular participant in AATA conferences and has presented
several papers at previous meetings. [ Back to Top ] |
“Animals in Transit - Body Temeratures: Dr. Malcom MITCHELL, BSc., PhD., M.Biol, C.Biol Scottish Agricultural College in Edinburgh, Scotland Roslin Welfare Consultants Research in collaboration with Mr. Peter Kettlewell
It is well
established that the thermal micro-environment experienced by animals
during transportation can constitute a major risk to their health and
welfare. Thus it is accepted that high thermal loads will cause body
temperature to rise (hyperthermia) and cold conditions may induce a
state of hypothermia (see 1Guide to the Ventilation of Livestock during
Transport and 2Livestock Transport Vehicles: A guide to best practice
for vehicle ventilation). The concerns associated with thermal stress in
transit are reflected in the more recent legislation and codes of
practice introduced in many regions of the world. For example in the
European Union, Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005, “On the protection of
animals during transport and related operations” and supporting
directives prescribe specific temperature limits and ventilation
requirements to minimize the risk of thermal stress in transported
animals.
This review
addresses the basic concepts of thermoregulatory physiology in relation
to animal transport and reports research findings on a range of
methodologies including infra-red non contact thermometry,
radio-telemetry of deep body temperature, measurement of body
temperature by implanted passive transponder and simple clinical
thermometers as applied to pigs, cattle and sheep. The research
reported has provided the basis for identification of “best practice” in
body temperature monitoring for transport studies and discusses how the
methods and information may be utilized in the future in relation to
monitoring animals on commercial journeys and for the purposes of
improving transport environments and practices as well as informing
legislation. |
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Dr. Renée Bergeron, PhD agr Département des Sciences Animales Université Laval, Québec, QC Canada, G1K 7P4
Tel.: +1 418-656-2131 ext 5950 Fax: +1 418-656-3766 Dr. Renée Bergeron is a professor of animal behaviour and welfare at Laval University, Québec, Canada. She completed a B.Sc. in animal science and a M.Sc. in animal nutrition at Laval University. She received a Ph.D. in animal behaviour from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Renée is a member of the Canadian Society of Animal Science and of the International Society for Applied Ethology, and served on several committees working on welfare standards. Her main research interests are the effects of nutritional and environmental factors on the behaviour and welfare of farm animals. She also works on animal stress related to handling, transportation and pre-slaughter management, and its effects on animal welfare, physiology and meat quality. As a member of the IATA Animal Care Team, she participates in the annual revision of the Live Animal Regulations.
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“The Role of the IATA Animal Care Team
Dr. Renée BERGERON,
PhD., agr.
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) Live Animal Regulations (LAR) provides guidelines to optimise air transportation conditions. For instance, it contains information on animal behaviour, general and specific container requirements, as well as handling procedures.
In the process of reviewing and updating the LAR, IATA calls upon a team of animal specialists to serve as scientific advisors. Each member of the IATA Animal Care Team has a specific area of scientific expertise, namely wild, domestic or laboratory animals. When reviewing the proposals of amendment to the LAR, the Animal Care Team uses scientific data from transportation experiments as much as possible. But even though transportation stress may be evaluated scientifically, very few studies have been done on air transportation, and even less on transportation of wild animals. Most studies concern domestic species transported by road. Therefore, the Animal Care Team members also rely on their knowledge of general welfare principles and of the biology of the species concerned. They also base their decisions on the practical experience of animal experts who ship animals, and airlines who carry them.
Recent examples of changes to the LAR include a new container requirement for laboratory SPF animals (CR 84), as well as container requirements for the transportation of koala (amendment to CR 31). As air transportation intensifies and scientific research progresses, further improvements to the LAR will be carried out.
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PRODUCTS & SERVICES FOR ANIMAL SHIPPERS |
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Dr. Peter M. Grosser Plant Health Attaché USDA-APHIS-International Services US Mission to the EU Boulevard du Regent 27 1000 Brussels, Belgium
Tel: + 32 2 508-2762 Fax: + 32 2 511-0918 Peter.M.Grosser@aphis.usda.gov
Pete Grosser began his Federal Career with the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service as a Plant Quarantine Inspector at JFK International Airport, Jamaica, New York in 1969.
In 1976 he was promoted to Plant Disease Specialist and transferred to the Port of New York assigned to the Hoboken, New Jersey, Plant Inspection Station. He returned to JFK in 1982 as Officer in Charge of the JFK Plant Inspection Station. In 1991 he was promoted to Senior Operations Officer, Import Services at APHIS headquarters in Hyattsville, Maryland. In 1999-2003, he was assigned to the APHIS, International Services office in Mexico City as Assistant Regional Director/APHIS Attaché.
His next post was Ottawa, Canada where he served until September 2005 prior to his posting in October 2005 to the United States Mission to the EU, Brussels, Belgium as APHIS Attaché.
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Dr. Peter M. GROSSER Plant Health Attaché USDA, APHIS, International Services US Mission To the EU
Wood Packaging Materials (WPM) made from unprocessed wood is a pathway for the introduction and spread of plant pests. Dutch Elm Disease, Asian Longhorned Beetle and Emerald Ash Borer are three of the more notorious pests linked to imports of unprocessed lumber and wood from off continent sources.
International standards for phytosanitary measures are prepared by the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) as part of the UN Foreign Agriculture Office (FAO) mandate on harmonized global policy and technical assistance in plant quarantine matters.. The goal is to achieve international harmonization of phytosanitary measures and facilitate trade by avoiding unjustified barriers to trade.
ISPM 15-Guidelines for Regulating WPM in International Trade were endorsed by the Interim Commission on Phytosanitary Measures in March 2002. The Standard describes the minimum measures needed to reduce the risk of introduction and spread of harmful quarantine pests associated with WPM (including dunnage) in international trade.
The presentation will provide the necessary tools and means for determining those WPM’s subject to the International standard and those articles that are exempt from the requirements.
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“Sea Transport: Fast Ferry
Mr. Henk VAN DOMMELEN H. Van Dommelen Veetransport PowerPoint Presentation |
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Mr. Van Dommelen was born and raised in the Netherlands. Henk is the owner and manager of H. Van Dommelen Veetransport which is specialised in stocking, exporting and transporting of livestock all over the world.
When he started in this business over 37 years ago, he began working with his sister and they worked together for 2 years. They both were drivers in the early days of the company start-up.
H. Van
Dommelen Veetransport has been trucking livestock inside and out of
Europe for 24 years. |
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Mr. Peter Stevenson Compassion in World Farming Charles House 5a Charles Street Petersfield, Hants GU32 3 EH England, UK
Tel.: + 44 1730 26 42 08 Fax: + 44 1730 26 07 91
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“A New Resource for Ensuring Animal Welfare: A Ready Reference to the OIE's New Transport Guidelines” Mr. Peter
STEVENSON
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