ANIMAL WELFARE DURING

LAND TRANSPORTATION:
A BRIEF GUIDE
This booklet outlines the World Organisation for Animal Health’s (OIE’s)
international guidelines on land transportation of animals. It will be valuable
for farmers, market managers, hauliers, truck drivers, slaughterhouse staff,
government officials and all persons involved in the transport of animals by land.
About Compassion in World Farming www.ciwf.org
Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) was established in 1967 by dairy farmer
Peter Roberts.

CIWF’s vision is a world where farm animals are treated with compassion and respect and
where cruel factory farming practices end. Our mission is to advance the well being of
farm animals worldwide.

The basis of CIWF’s work is the recognition of farm animals as sentient beings: animals
who are capable of feeling pain and suffering, experiencing sensations and emotions.
When farming practices provide them with the right environment and conditions, they
can enjoy their lives.

We work to raise awareness of the detrimental impact of intensive animal farming

on the environment, on human health and food security, and on scarce natural resources.

CIWF is an international organisation with offices in France and Holland and

representatives in seven more countries, including South Africa and Australia. CIWF also
coordinates the European Coalition for Farm Animals (ECFA), a campaigning and lobbying
group of 31 organisations in 25 European countries and Israel. CIWF works with animal
welfare contact organisations in 89 countries.

The OIE’s Animal Welfare Guidelines www.oie.int

The World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) was created in 1924 and, as of 2005,
consisted of 167 member countries. The OIE aims to improve the health and the welfare
of animals all over the world, regardless of the cultural practices or the economic
situations in member countries. The organisation's decisions are science-based.

The OIE’s 167 member countries unanimously voted to adopt the first ever global Animal
Welfare Guidelines in May 2005. Four sets of Guidelines were agreed on the issues of land
and sea transportation, slaughter of animals for human consumption and emergency
killing for disease control.

These standards are designed to provide a guide to all people involved in these areas of
animal use, to help staff take responsibility for animal welfare and maintain good welfare
standards of the animals in their care.

This booklet has been produced by CIWF to outline the new standards on land
transportation of animals. It aims to provide an easy-to-read resource, so the actual
wording of the OIE Guidelines has been slightly adapted in places.

The full OIE Guidelines can be found at:

www.oie.int/eng/normes/mcode/en_titre_3.7.htm
 Contents

04 Animals covered by these guidelines

05 Who is responsible for the welfare of transported animals?

06 Competences: skills, experience and training needed to

transport animals

06 Planning for a journey

07 Animal welfare before the journey begins

08 Animal welfare during loading

08 Animal welfare during the journey

14 Unloading and handling animals after the journey

15 Management of disputes about fitness of animals to enter a

region or country

03
 “The welfare of animals during transport is

Animals covered by the guidelines

These guidelines apply to live domesticated (farmed) animals: cattle,
buffalo, camels, sheep, goats, pigs, poultry and equines (e.g.: horses).
They will also apply to some other animals (e.g.: deer, other camelid
species). Wild and feral animals may need different conditions.

Responsibilities for animal welfare during land transport

Owners and managers of animals are responsible for:
• the health of the animals, deciding whether they are fit to travel, for
animals’ welfare during the journey - even if these jobs are done by other
people on their behalf
• complying with veterinary or other certification
• the presence during the journey of at least one animal handler who is
‘competent’ (who has the skills, experience and/or training) to work with
the species of animals being transported and who has the authority to take
fast action if there are problems
• responsible for making sure appropriate equipment and veterinary
assistance are provided for the species and journey.
Business agents or buying/selling agents share the responsibility with:
• owners for ensuring that animals are fit to travel
• market owners and managers of facilities at the start and at the end of the
journey to ensure facilities for the assembly, loading, transport, unloading
and holding of animals and for emergencies are available.
Animal handlers are responsible for:
• the humane handling and care of the animals, especially during loading
and unloading
• maintaining a journey log.
In the absence of a separate animal handler, the driver is the animal
handler.

04
the responsibility of all people involved.”
Transport companies & vehicle owners
are responsible for planning the journey
to ensure the care of the animals,
including:
• choosing appropriate vehicles
• providing properly trained staff for
loading and animal care
• developing and keeping up-to-date
contingency plans for emergencies
• planning ahead to minimise animal
stress during transport
• producing a journey plan which
includes a loading plan, journey
duration and location of resting places.
Drivers are responsible for:
• loading only animals which are fit
to travel
• correct loading of animals into the
vehicle and inspection during the
journey
• appropriate responses to problems
arising during the journey.
Managers of facilities (where animals
are held at the start and at the end of
the journey and at resting points) are
responsible for:
• providing suitable premises for
loading, unloading and securely
holding the animals
• providing water and feed until animals
are moved on or slaughtered
• providing competent animal handlers
to load, unload, drive and hold animals
in a way that causes animals minimum
stress and injury
• minimising the opportunities for
disease transmission
• providing facilities and equipment for
emergencies, including humane killing
if needed
• providing facilities for washing and
disinfecting vehicles after unloading
• ensuring facilities allow proper
rest times and minimal delay
during stops.
Competent authorities, such as
government departments, are likely
to require:
• minimum standards for animal
welfare, including inspection of
animals, certification and record
keeping
• approval of premises, facilities,
containers and vehicles for animal
transport
• standards for the competence of
drivers, animal handlers and managers
• accreditation and training of drivers,
animal handlers and managers
• monitoring and evaluating the
effectiveness of health and welfare
standards, including use of
veterinary products.
05
 Competences
Skills, experience and training
needed to transport
animals.
All people responsible for care
and handling of animals,
including veterinarians, should
be competent to do so.
They can gain their skills through
experience or training. They should
have a current certificate to prove
their competence, from an
independent organisation on
behalf of the government or
authority responsible for overseeing
animal transport.
Assessment of competence of
animal handlers should at a
minimum address their knowledge,
and ability to apply that
knowledge, of:
• planning a journey, including
space allowance, feed, water and
ventilation requirements
• responsibilities for animals during
the journey, including loading and
unloading
• how to get advice and assistance
on animal behaviour and signs of
disease
• how to recognise poor animal
welfare such as stress, pain
and fatigue
• how to prevent and deal with
poor animal welfare
• relevant authorities, applicable
transport regulations and
06 documentation requirements
• general disease prevention
procedures, including cleaning
• methods of driving
• methods of inspecting animals
• management of situations likely
to be encountered during
transport, such as bad weather
conditions and dealing with
emergencies
• animal handling and care,
including feeding, watering and
inspection for whichever animal
species they will transport
• maintaining a journey log and
other records.
Planning the journey
Adequate planning is an important
factor affecting the welfare of
animals during a journey.
Before the journey starts, plans
should be made for:
• preparing animals for the journey
• choice of transport method e.g.:
road or rail
• type and duration of the journey
• vehicle / container design and
maintenance
• documentation that will be required
• space allowance of animals
• rest, water and feed at the start,
during, at the end of the journey
and during rest stops
• observation of animals while
travelling
• control of disease
• emergency response procedures.
Some examples of things to
consider in preparation of animals
for the journey:
• animals need time to get used to
any new diet or method of
feeding/watering
• animals need experience of humans
and the handling conditions
(including methods of restraint)
that they will experience on the
journey before they are
transported, to reduce their fear
and make them easier to handle
• drugs (such as tranquillizers) should
not be used routinely during
transport and if used in an emergency
should be given only by a veterinarian
or someone who has been instructed
to use them by a veterinarian.
The maximum duration of a
journey will depend on:
• the ability of the animals to cope
with the stress of transport
(transport may be much more
stressful for very young, old,
lactating or pregnant animals)
• the animals’ previous transport
experience
• whether animals are fatigued
• the need for special attention to all
or some animals
• the need for feed and water
• any increased chance of injury
or disease
• space allowance, vehicle design,
road conditions and driving quality
on that particular journey
being planned
• weather conditions.
Vehicle and container design and
maintenance should ensure:
• they are designed, constructed and
fitted for the species, size and
weight of the animals
• they have secure smooth fittings
with no sharp protrusions to
prevent injury
• injury to drivers and animal
handlers are minimised
• protection from bad weather
• they prevent animals escaping
• cleaning and disinfection can
be done and the containment
of faeces and urine during a
journey to prevent spread
of disease
• they are maintained in good
mechanical and structural
condition
• adequate ventilation for the
animals to maintain a normal
temperature and not overheat,
even when the vehicle is
standing still
• faeces or urine from animals on
upper levels do not soil animals
on lower levels, nor their feed
and water
• if vehicles are carried on ships,
they should be secured properly
to the ship
• adequate feeding or watering
resources and equipment
• floors are designed/ bedding
is provided to prevent slipping
and protect animals (especially
young animals) from hard
flooring. 07
 There are special provisions for
transport in vehicles (road and
rail) on roll-on/roll-off vessels or
for containers – consult the OIE
Guidelines for details.
Space Allowance
Before the journey, the number of
animals in each section of the
vehicle and on the whole vehicle,
should be agreed.
• The space needed depends on
whether the animals need to lie
down (e.g.: pigs, camels and
poultry), or to stand (e.g.: horses).
Animals which normally lie down
will often stand when first loaded
or when the vehicle is driven
with too much sideways
movement or sudden braking.
Animals should all be able lie
in a normal, comfortable position.
When standing, they should
have enough space to balance
properly
• The amount of headroom needed
depends on the species of
animal. Animals should have
room to stand in their natural
position without touching
the roof or upper deck of
the vehicle
• Calculations according to
the space allowance permitted
for each animal should use
the guidance in the OIE
standards
• Other factors like vehicle design
and journey length will influence
08 space needs.
Rest, water and feed
Planning should include suitable
water and feed for during the
journey, including rest stops.
Feed must be suitable for the age,
condition of the animals,
temperature, etc.
Animals should be rested at
appropriate intervals during the
journey. The type of transport and
species being transported will
influence the frequency of rest
stops and whether the animals
are unloaded.
Observing animals during the
journey
Animals should be positioned to
enable each individual animal to
be observed regularly during the
journey to ensure their safety and
good welfare. If the animals are in
crates or on multi-tiered vehicles
which do not allow free access for
observation, for example where the
roof of the tier is too low (e.g.:
less than 1.3m), animals cannot
be inspected adequately and
serious injury or disease could
go undetected. In this case, a
shorter journey duration should
be allowed.
Control of disease
Animal transport is often a
significant factor in the spread of
infectious diseases, so journey
planning should take this into
consideration. Mixing of animals
from different sources in a single
consignment should be minimised.
Contact at resting points between
animals from different sources
should be avoided. When possible,
animals should be vaccinated
against diseases to which they
are likely to be exposed. Medication
should only be administered by
a veterinarian or a person who
has been instructed in their use
by a veterinarian.
Emergency response procedures
Contingency plans to deal with
emergencies should be prepared in
advance. Extreme weather
conditions are hazardous and
vehicles should be designed to
minimise these risks. Special
precautions should be taken for
animals that are not used to hot
or cold conditions. In extreme heat
or cold, animals should not be
transported at all. Transport at
night may sometimes reduce
heat stress.
Preparing documentation
Animals should not be loaded
until all the required documentation
is complete.
The documentation should include:
• journey travel plan
• date, time, and place of loading
and unloading
• veterinary certification when
required
• drivers’ and handlers’ competencies
• identities of the animals
transported to allow traceback of
individual animals to where they
began the journey
• details of any animals considered
‘at risk’ (see OIE Guidelines for
more information)
• details of the period of rest and
access to feed and water prior to
the journey
• stocking density estimate for each
part of the vehicle
• the journey log – this is a daily
record of inspection and
important events, veterinary
records including sickness and
deaths, weather and temperature,
rest stops, travel time and
distance, feed and water offered
and estimates of consumption,
medication provided and
mechanical problems for
the vehicle
If veterinary certification must
accompany consignments of
animals, it should include:
• animal identification
(description,number, etc.)
• health status including test,
treatment and vaccination status
• when required, details of
disinfection carried out. When
the veterinarian provides the
certificate, he/she should inform
the animal handler of any factors
affecting the animals’ fitness to
travel for a particular journey.
09
 Animal welfare before the
journey begins
Before the journey, animals
should rest if their welfare has
become poor.
Animals suspected of being ill or
diseased should be inspected by a
veterinarian. Feed and water should
be given before the journey if the
journey will last longer than the
normal period of time between
feeds/watering. The OIE provides
guidelines for these times for
different species in its standards.
Animals need time to adapt to a
new diet or method of providing
feed or water.
Before each journey, vehicles and
containers should be thoroughly
cleaned. If cleaning is necessary
during a journey, this should be
done in a way that does not stress
the animals.
Selection of compatible groups
Animals reared together should be
transported together, as should
animals with a strong social bond.
Where animals might be aggressive,
they should not be mixed together.
The OIE has recommendations for
particular species in its Guidelines.
Young or small animals should be
separated from older or larger
animals (although mothers and
their offspring should be
10
transported together). Animals with
horns or antlers should not be
mixed with animals lacking horns or
antlers. Animals of different species
should not be mixed unless they are
known to be compatible.
Shelter in the animal area
Assembly/holding areas should
prevent animals escaping; keep
them safe from injury, predators
and disease; protect them from the
effects of the weather; allow for
rest, water and feeding; keep them
in their social groups.
Effect of travel experience
Previous transport experience,
training and conditioning may
reduce fear and stress in animals.
Animals that have experience of
good welfare in transport and
which are carefully transported may
show less adverse responses such as
stress or fear. Use of familiar
personnel with good animal
handling skills can reduce the
fearfulness of animals and improve
animal handling.
Fitness to travel
Each animal should be inspected by
a veterinarian or an animal handler
to assess their fitness to travel.
Animals found unfit to travel
should not be loaded onto a
vehicle, except for transport to
receive veterinary treatment.
Humane arrangements should be
made by the owner or agent for the
handling and care of any animal
rejected as unfit. Risks during
transport can be reduced by
selecting animals suited to the
conditions of travel and used to
expected weather conditions.
Animals that are unfit to travel
include:
• those that are sick, injured, weak,
disabled or fatigued
• those that are unable to stand
unaided and put weight on
each leg
• those that are blind in both eyes
• those that cannot be moved
without causing them additional
suffering
• pregnant animals who are likely
to give birth during the journey
• those whose body condition
would result in poor welfare
because of the expected climate
and weather conditions.
Animals ‘at risk’ require special
conditions (such as in the design of
facilities and vehicles and the
length of the journey) and
additional attention during
transport. These may include:
• large or obese animals
• very young or old animals
• excitable or aggressive animals
• animals which have had little
contact with humans
• animal subject to motion
sickness
• females in late pregnancy or
heavy lactation, mother and
offspring
• those with a history of exposure
to stressors or pathogenic agents
prior to transport.
Transport procedures should be
able to deal with variations in the
behaviour of the species being
handled. What works for one
species may be dangerous for
another. See below and the OIE
Guidelines for recommendations
for particular species.
Welfare during loading
Loading has been shown to
be the procedure most likely to
be the cause of poor welfare in
transported animals, the
methods to be used should
be carefully planned.
Experienced supervision
Loading should be supervised
by experienced animal
handlers. Animals should be
loaded quietly and without
unnecessary noise, harassment
or force. Untrained assistants or
spectators should not be
allowed to get in the way
of organised loading activities.
11
 Facilities: where animals are
loaded
The collecting area, walkways and
loading ramps should be designed
and constructed to take into
account the needs and abilities of
the animals. Issues include:
• the size and shape of the facilities
• the angle and shape of slopes
and ramps
• the types of surface (e.g.: to
prevent slipping, falling or other
injuries)
• absence of sharp objects
• lighting, to allow the animals to
be observed and to allow the
animals’ ease of movement
• uniform lighting directly over
approaches to sorting pens,
loading ramps (brighter lighting
inside vehicles / containers can
minimise baulking; dim lighting
may be better for catching of
poultry and some other animals)
• ventilation, which should provide
fresh air, the removal of excessive
heat, humidity and noxious fumes
(such as ammonia and carbon
monoxide) and the prevention of
accumulations of ammonia and
carbon dioxide.
Goads and other ‘aids’ for
loading animals
Animals which have little or no
room to move should not be
subjected to physical force or
goads and other aids which force
them to move.
12
Useful and permitted aids include
panels, flags, plastic paddles,
flappers (a length of cane with a
short strap of leather or canvas
attached), plastic bags and
metallic rattles; they should be
used in a manner sufficient to
encourage and direct movement of
the animals but without physical
contact with them.
Painful procedures (including
whipping, tail twisting, use of nose
twitches, pressure on eyes, ears or
external genitalia), or the use of
unsuitable goads or other aids
(including sticks with sharp ends,
lengths of metal piping, fencing
wire or heavy leather belts), should
not be used to move animals.
The use of goads which
administer electric shocks should
be discouraged and restricted to
that necessary to assist movement
of the animal. Such use should
be limited to battery-powered
goads on the hindquarters of
adult pigs and cattle and never
on sensitive areas such as the
eyes, mouth, ears, anogenital
region or belly.
Such instruments should not be
used on other animals.
The throwing or dropping of
animals, or their lifting or
dragging by their tail, head,
horns, ears, limbs, wool, hair or
feathers, should not be
permitted. The manual lifting of
small animals is permissible.
Animal welfare during
the journey
Drivers and animal handlers
should check immediately before
departure to ensure that the
animals have been properly
loaded. Each load should be
checked again early in the trip
and periodically. Adjustments
should be made as appropriate.
Driving methods should be
smooth without sudden turns
or stops.
Methods of restraining or
containing animals are shown in
the OIE Guidelines.
Animals should be protected
against harm from hot or cold
conditions during travel. Effective
ventilation should prevent the
build-up of noxious gases.
Specific temperature and humidity
recommendations are given in
the OIE Guidelines.
To prevent disease, animals
slipping, becoming dirty
and to keep the transport
environment healthy, urine
and faeces should be removed
from floors regularly. Methods
for its removal must comply
with health and environmental
legislation.
Sick, injured and dead animals
A driver or animal handler finding
sick, injured or dead animals
should follow the agreed
emergency response plan.
Sick or injured animals should
be kept apart from healthy
ones where possible and
dealt with humanely. When
euthanasia (humane killing) is
necessary, the driver or animal
handler should ensure that it is
carried out without causing
further animal suffering, and
results in immediate death.
A veterinarian should be
called if needed to ensure
euthanasia is done competently.
The OIE Guidelines on emergency
killing provide information
on methods approved by
the OIE.
Contact between transported
animals, their waste and other
farm animals should be
minimised to prevent disease.
Methods of disposal of dead
animals should prevent disease
and comply with health and
environmental legislation.
Water and feed requirements
All animals being transported
should have access to feed
and water if the journey length
requires this, or the species
requires feed or water
throughout. There should
be enough space for all animals
to move to the feed and water
sources. The OIE Guidelines
provide animal-specific
recommendations.
13
 Rest periods
Animals should be rested at
regular intervals during the
journey and offered feed and
water, either on the vehicle
or, if necessary, unloaded
into suitable facilities. These
facilities should meet the
needs of the particular animal
species and should allow
access of all animals to feed
and water.
Observations during the journey
Animals being transported by
road should be observed soon
after a journey begins and
whenever the driver has a rest
stop (with a maximum interval
of five hours). After meal breaks
and refuelling stops, the animals
should be observed immediately
before departure.
Animals being transported by
rail should be observed at
each scheduled stop nearest to
five hours since the last
observation. The rail transporter
should monitor the progress of
trains carrying animals and
minimise delays.
During stops, animals must
be properly held, have appropriate
feed and water, and be checked
that their physical condition is
satisfactory.
14
Unloading and handling
after the journey
See the section on loading to
ensure facilities and animal
handling provide good animal
welfare (page 12). At the end of the
journey it is important to note that
animals will be fatigued.
Unloading should be supervised by
an animal handler with knowledge
and experience of the behaviour
and physical aspects of the species
being unloaded.
Animals should be unloaded as
soon as possible after arrival.
Unloading should be done quietly
and without unnecessary noise,
harassment or force.
Sick and injured animals
Any animal that has become sick,
injured or disabled during a
journey should be appropriately
treated or humanely killed.
See the OIE Guidelines on
emergency killing. When necessary,
veterinary advice should be sought
in the care and treatment of these
animals. The animal handler
during transit should ensure that
responsibility for the welfare of
sick, injured or disabled animals
is transferred to a suitable person
at the place where animals
are unloaded. Facilities and
equipment are required for the
humane unloading of animals that
cannot walk due to fatigue, injury
or sickness. These animals should be
unloaded in a manner that causes
the least amount of suffering.
Separate pens should be available
for sick or injured animals. Feed and
water should be available for each
sick or injured animal.
Minimising disease risks
Animal transport can increase
disease risks via:
• increased animal contact from
different places
• increased shedding of disease and
risk of infection due to stress
• exposure of animals to
contaminated vehicles, resting
points, markets, etc.
Cleaning and disinfection
Vehicles and containers used to
transport the animals should be
cleaned before re-use.
This includes the physical removal
of manure and bedding by
scraping, washing and flushing
with water and detergent. This
should be followed by disinfection
when there are concerns about
disease transmission.
Manure, litter, bedding and dead
animals should be disposed of in a
way which prevents possible
transmission of disease and
complies with health and
environmental legislation.
Places where animals are held or
unloaded should have areas for the
cleaning and disinfection of vehicles.
Management of disputes about
fitness of animals to enter a
region or country
The welfare of the animals should
be the most important
consideration if a journey cannot be
completed. The government or
other ‘Competent Authority’ (CA) of
that country should have suitable
isolation facilities to allow the
unloading of animals. The CA of the
importing country should declare
immediately in writing the reasons
for the refusal; they should provide
urgent access to a veterinarian, and
the necessary facilities and
approvals for required diagnostic
testing; they should provide for
continued health and welfare
assessment. If the CA asks that
animals remain on the vehicle, they
should allow feed and water to be
provided and their welfare regularly
assessed. If the situation cannot be
rapidly resolved, the CA should ask
the OIE to help resolve the problem.
15
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Glossary

Animal Handler Administration

Water/Feed Gentle Handling

Ventilation Transport

Shelter/Rest No Mixed Animals

Cleaning Mixed Animals

Veterinarian Telephone

Facilities Death/Sickness

Checklist Bad Weather

Yes No

Published for Compassion in World Farming, May 2006