Loading cattle on a trailer is something that most farmers do on a regular basis. People think about trailering as a normal, everyday occurrence, but the picture looks a whole lot different from the cow’s point of view. To the cow, it doesn’t matter why she’s getting on the truck. She could be going to a show, going out to pasture, going to a heifer grower or going to slaughter.
No matter the reason, trailering is still a scary event most of the time. Most people realize that trailering is stressful for animals and sometimes for the people involved. Because of the stress involved in trailering, animal welfare is an issue as well as economic losses. In addressing these bottom-line concerns, handlers can eliminate unnecessary stress and thus improve welfare during transportation.
Bruising Happens
The major issue that producers must consider is economic losses during transportation. Certainly for beef producers this is an important issue, but dairy producers are also affected by meat quality losses. In 1999, 22% of cull cows had severe bruising. Stress and bruising leads to meat quality problems, (like dark circles) which cost the beef industry $6.08 for every animal slaughtered. Furthermore, shipping fever costs $624 million per year (dairy and beef industries). Clearly, there is plenty of room for improvement in these statistics.
To minimize economic losses, animal welfare during transportation needs to be improved. To make improvement, it is essential for handlers, cattle haulers and producers to understand the underlying conditions that cause stress during transportation. Some of the big picture issues of transportation are: duration of journey, novelty, vibration, shocks and impacts, noise, and orientation. Other more specific issues include: ventilation, loading, temperature, stocking density, location in vehicle, lack of food and water, breaks during journey, and mixing.
Check Loading Conditions
When loading cattle onto a trailer, handlers need to recognize the kinds of objects, lighting and noises that spook cattle. Cattle prefer good lighting and will move more naturally into well-lit areas. Thus, trailers should not look like a dark hole to cattle. Cattle handlers also need to be careful of shadows when loading animals. This is why it’s preferable to use solid panels in a loading chute if possible. Another important consideration is footing when loading cattle. Ensure that surfaces are non-slip and put down “barn-dry” or another non-slip agent if necessary. Changes in flooring surface, (such as concrete to gravel) could also cause cattle to balk. Cattle prods, sticks, etc. should not be used on animals.
Experienced cattle handlers know the signs of anxiety and fear. In cattle, these are generally easy to recognize. Tail swishing is an obvious sign of stress and the speed increases as the fear or stress increases. Sweating when there has been little exertion is an obvious sign of stress. An animal with her head up who is vigilant and looking around, or an animal with her ears pointed directly at an object may be concerned in certain situations. Also important to remember is that novelty is a strong stressor. In any new or different situation, animals will experience some stress.
Stocking density is a contributing factor to the amount of stress and injuries cattle experience during transportation. Animals should be able to stand in a natural position on the trailer in order to maintain their balance. The idea that animals are protected by being packed in is erroneous. The effect of stocking density is shown by higher blood cortisol levels in trailers with a higher stocking density. Animals should be fit so that they are close to each other, but not “packed”. The driver also has an effect on the welfare of the animals. A carefully driven vehicle with no sudden braking or acceleration will deliver animals that are less-stressed.
The type of trailering system used to haul animals can make a big difference. Animals experience fewer bruises with doors that open to the full width of the trailer for unloading. Pneumatic suspension is generally better than leaf springs, and articulated vehicles tend to be better than rigid vehicles. Also, be sure that tires are not over-inflated and that plenty of bedding is used.
Lastly, use common sense when transporting animals. Heat builds up in stationary vehicles. Make sure to park in the shade if possible when stopped. Stocking density needs to be decreased in hot weather. As producers, you may already be aware of such things. However, it’s your responsibility to ensure your cattle get to their final destination with minimal stress involved.
*Thank you to Debbie Cherney for compiling this information for Animal Science 310. “Introduction to Animal Welfare”, Cornell University, Fall 2006.
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