| The transportation of unfit livestock is recognized as an animal welfare problem area. Situations exist where unfit animals, that should be euthanized on-farm, or shipped directly to abattoirs, are being sent to auction markets.
Producers and transporters need to be aware that they are legally responsible for the welfare of animals being transported. Industries need standards on what is considered unfit and these standards must be communicated to all involved.
Legislation varies provincially. Federally, the law states that,
"no person shall load or cause to be loaded? and 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"
Ontario Pork recently printed a booklet called, On-farm Euthanasia of Swine Options for Producers. Crystal Mackay of Ontario Pork says the booklet provides producers with information on available on-farm euthanasia methods.
Producers and transporters need to be aware that they are
legally responsible for the welfare of animals being transported.
An animal deemed fit for transport may still go down while in transit. Darren Malchow, CFIA inspector, has developed a hog sled for dealing with such animals. His initiative has been well received by industry, with every federally inspected slaughter plant in Alberta now using the sleds. The sled is now being introduced in Quebec, New Brunswick and California. A video outlines how the sled offers a humane and safe alternative for removing downed hogs from trucks.
Constable Nancy Simmons of the Alberta SPCA assures people that infirm animals can be shipped to abattoirs, as long as they can be humanely loaded and unloaded (if not, humanely put down on-farm).
The problem arises when these animals are sent to auction markets, where they may be held for days before being sold. Simmons says,"Be a fly on that animal’s back. Think what happens when you drop it off at the auction mart and where it may go before being killed."
Drawing a line at which point an animal should not be transported can be somewhat subjective. Decision-making tools need to be widely circulated to ensure producers and transporters know what to do and to help them make the right decisions.
Alberta Pork and Alberta Milk are two industry groups that have taken the initiative to develop guidelines that help producers make those tough decisions. Aart Okkema, of Alberta Milk, states, "Clear terms are necessary to ensure that producers, vets and the Alberta SPCA are on the same level in their understanding of what is acceptable."
Karl Chomlak of Alberta Pork shares similar views regarding the pork industry’s guidelines development. "Producers were getting mixed messages about what was acceptable. We needed to have a unified understanding of what constitutes unfit for transport and agreement on what is acceptable." |
