Current Knowledge on the Transportation by Road of Cattle, including Unweaned Calves

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The welfare of farm animals has been, and continues to be, a key societal and political concern at a global level. Public awareness of issues surrounding the comfort and health of livestock and the transport of animals to multiple production units throughout their lifetime is also increasing. Thus, efforts to understand the impacts of common (and largely unavoidable) husbandry practices on animal health and wellbeing are appropriate, timely, and important. The aim of this review was to analyse the scientific literature available regarding the truck transportation of cattle, including unweaned calves, by road, because the infrastructure of the beef cattle industry in today’s world dictates a need for the transportation of cattle by road, including within the European Union. The buying and selling of cattle from one producer to another, the rearing of surplus calves and their movement from dairy farms to fattening farms, the finishing of weanling calves at large feedlots, and the endpoint of slaughter, all necessitate transportation. Efforts to decrease stress during the handling and transportation of unweaned calves and cattle improve welfare as well as subsequent production. Research studies have targeted such a goal, designing experiments to determine the optimum stocking density, the maximum duration of transportation, and the timing of rest stops and the determination of which components of the transportation are the most stressful. All of these examples provide incentives for implementing appropriate conditions during transportation to reach optimal animal welfare standards. ABSTRACT: Transport conditions have the potential to alter the physiological responses of animals to the psychological or physical stress of transport. Transportation may introduce multiple physical and psychological stressors to unweaned calves and adult cattle, including noise, overcrowding, food and water deprivation, extreme temperatures, commingling with unfamiliar animals, handling by unfamiliar humans, and being placed in a novel environment upon arrival. Apart from these factors, the type of road and even driving skill may affect the welfare of animals. One of the concerns regarding cattle transport is that the handling and marketing of animals prior to a journey may lengthen the period of feed withdrawal. Furthermore, feed withdrawal can impact animal welfare through hunger and metabolic stress. Transportation is also associated with a decrease in animal performance as well as an increase in the incidence of bovine respiratory disease. It is well established that the transportation of cattle is a stressor that causes a quantifiable response; however, excessive stress during transport resulting in physiological or pathological changes can be reduced with best management practices. The objective of this review was to analyse the available scientific literature pertaining to the transport by road of cattle, including unweaned calves.