Fitness to Transport Cattle and Sheep

Transcription

1 AMI Livestock Transport Conference March 2009 Fitness to Transport Cattle and Sheep

2 Fitness to Transport Cattle and Sheep 1. The laws 2. Industry reports 3. Industry guidelines 4. Canada s transport training program (CLT)

3 Fitness to Transport Cattle and Sheep

4 Partnership of Alberta s livestock groups First of All Who? What? Why? AFAC Promoting responsible animal care Engaging in discussion with public Monitoring issues & legislations Encouraging research Started in 1993

5 The Laws Provincial Animal Protection Act Alberta SPCA and RCMP Industry input to revise Act Includes humane transport regs Federal Criminal Code willful neglect and abuse Humane Handling & Slaughter of Food Animals Humane Transportation Regulations Canadian norms of expected care for animals

6 Humane Transport Regs Sections applicable to road transport 137- Animals Subject to Inspection Animal - Related Factors 138 Fitness for Transport Segregation; size, sex, species 138 (2)(b), 145, 148, Feed, Water and Rest Conveyances and Handling Loading and Unloading 140, 142 (a) Space Requirements

7 Humane Transport Regs Every animal transported by railway car, motor vehicle, aircraft or vessel shall be subject to inspection at all times by an inspector.

8 Humane Transport Regs No one shall transport, or cause to be transported an animal (a) that by reason of infirmity, illness, injury, fatigue or any other cause cannot be transported without undue suffering during the expected journey

9 Humane Transport Regs Not allowed to load a livestock animal that is non-ambulatory. If an animal becomes non-ambulatory in transit it is not allowed to proceed further than the nearest suitable location. Non-ambulatory livestock must be stunned on the truck.

10 Humane Transport & Meat Inspection If the CFIA vet assesses the nonambulatory animal (in truck) as being fit for human consumption; and the plant chooses to devote the necessary resources to shoot and move the animal, and wishes to process the animal, it can still be processed.

11 Humane Transport & Meat Inspection Downed animal usually is not used for meat production. Main reason is the logistics of getting it stunned on the truck, stuck and to the kill floor in an effective manner. Often condemned anyway.

12 Industry Reports Humane Transportation of Animals Livestock Transportation in Alberta 3. Downer Benchmarking ( )

13 Industry Reports 1994 Humane Transportation of Animals Report Stats lacking on quantify the movement and injuries 8 separate laws, yet truckers unaware of the regulations Lack of consistent standards for handling, density and time in transit Truckers forced to haul infirm / downer animals Penalties inconsistent No training available

14 Industry Reports Everyday, 500 commercial livestock trucks are on Alberta roads. Documented industry achievements and stats. Called for increased uniformity with enforcement. Recognized support needed for truckers to be able to refuse unfit animals, numbers causing overcrowding and extreme weather transporting. Truckers need for humane handling training.

15 Industry Reports Downer Benchmarking Program ( ) Baseline information to enable the livestock industry to better educate and position itself as a responsible leader in livestock care; Identify problem areas regarding downers; Track improvement and successes; Results For all species, downers (this includes DOA s) made up a very small fraction of the total number of animals transported to abattoirs in Alberta. (Downers as a % of federal plant cattle kill =.02%; federal plant pig kill = reduced from.08% to.05% and horse kill = reduced from.14% to.05%. For comparison, the 1993 DOA only numbers were.02% for cattle.

16 Industry Actions Generally accepted practices? Who decides? Practices that result in pain, hunger, fear and distress. - Dr. D. Fraser Industry rallies to stop the loading of unfit / downers. WHY?

17 Industry Actions What is Acceptable What is Not Industry Driven Change Improve Animal Welfare Fix what needs fixing

18 Industry Actions Humane Handling Guidelines Standards for the care of unfit animals To assist producers, truckers and auction market staff to determine if livestock are fit for loading. Used by all provincial and federal inspectors as a reference tool.

19 Humane Handling of Unfit Cattle

20 Humane Handling of Unfit Cattle DO NOT SHIP/Condemned at Plant 1. Very thin and weak 2. Downers 3. Unresponsive infectious disease 4. Infectious Arthritis (2 or more joints) 5. Bone Fractures 6. Congestive heart failure (with brisket fluid) 7. Severe Cancer Eye 8. Signs of nervous disorder 9. Prolapsed Uterus 10. Deep wounds and or profuse bleeding 11. Dehydration/exhaustion 12. About to give birth or have in last 48 hours.

21 Humane Handling of Unfit Cattle DO NOT SHIP/Condemned at Plant

22 Humane Handling of Unfit Cattle

23 Humane Handling of Unfit Cattle

24 Humane Handling of Unfit Cattle BCS - 1

25 Humane Handling of Unfit Cattle Transport with Special Provisions

26 Humane Handling of Unfit Cattle Transport with Special Provisions

27 Humane Handling of Unfit Cattle Transport with Special Provisions

28 Humane Handling of Unfit Cattle Transport with Special Provisions

29 Humane Handling of Unfit Sheep

30 Livestock Transport Training CLT is multi-species Core manual & DVD Modules: Beef, horse, sheep, swine, poultry (with videos) Need bison and elk

31 Livestock Transport Training CLT focuses on the safe & humane relocation of livestock Regulations Driver s responsibilities Due diligence (c/cbb) Handling Loading Biosecurity Risk management Accident prevention US export process Humane handling guidelines

32 Humane Handling of Unfit Pigs Early intervention / prevention key If in doubt, favor the animal AUCTION MARKETS: after hour drop offs of unfit/non ambulatory animals: euthanized by market and producer billed for costs. SPCA maybe notified.

33 AMI Livestock Transport Conference March 2009 Fitness to Transport Cattle and Sheep