Project 1882
djurensratt-se/fokusområden/Djurtransporter/Djurtransporter_17
Animals in factory farms

Transport of animals

Project 1882 works for fewer, shorter and less risky animal transports and to replace the transport of live animals to slaughter, or breeding, by the transport of meat and genetic material.

This is how Project 1882 works to put an end to cruel animal transportation:

  • Conducts political advocacy for stricter animal transport legislation in Sweden and at the EU level.
  • Influences the European Commission's revision of current animal transport rules.
  • Contributes to a strong opinion against painful animal transport, including by informing the public about what the animals are exposed to when they are transported.
  • Runs the inspirational site “Välj Vego” (Choose Vego), which aims to make it easier for more people to choose not to eat meat.
djurensratt-se/fokusområden/Djurtransporter/Djurtransporter_14
Content

On this page

Loading ...
djurensratt-se/fokusområden/Djurtransporter/Djurtransporter_10

Project 1882 works for:

  • A ban on the export of live animals to non-EU countries.
  • A maximum limit of 8 hours of transport time. A maximum of four hours for rabbits and birds.
  • A ban on transporting unweaned and pregnant animals (for those where 40 % of the gestation has passed).
  • Stricter enforcement of the legislation and effective controls.
  • A ban on the transportation of live animals if the expected outdoor temperature exceeds 25 ̊C.
  • A shift from the transport of live animals to the transport of meat and genetic material.
djurensratt-se/fokusområden/Djurtransporter/Djurtransporter_6

The problems with animal transport

Most animals in factory farms are transported at least once in their lifetime - to the slaughterhouse. Many animals are also transported from one breeding site to another. Transportation is a major source of stress and risk of injury for animals. Stresses include mixing with unfamiliar individuals during transport, severe cold or heat, congestion, truck oscillations and vibrations, and the unfamiliar environment. (1, 2) Loading and unloading are the most stressful for animals and are particularly stressful if the animals are mixed with unfamiliar animals. (3)

In the case of pigs, for example, long transport times lead to an increase in several signs of stress(4), but even two-hour transports on good ground lead to an increase in stress hormones in the blood (5).

When cattle are transported to slaughter, often only one or a few individuals from each farm are sent. This means that slaughter trucks travel around to several farms and make many stops to load new animals before being fully loaded and going to the slaughterhouse. The circumstances that are most stressful for cattle during transportation are loading and unloading, variations in speed and driving on curved and bumpy roads.(6) It is also very stressful when new, unfamiliar animals are loaded onto the truck. (6) These disturbances mean that animals often do not eat, drink or lie down during transportation. Long transport times can therefore be very stressful (7).

In the EU, generally the time for transporting animals to slaughter may not exceed eight hours within the country. But there are several derogations, including if borders are crossed. For birds, such as hens and chickens the transport time to the nearest slaughterhouse are often extended by a maximum of four hours.(8)

This means that up to twelve hours may pass from when a chicken or hen is packed into a transport cage until slaughter. During this time, the chicken or hen receives no food or water and the transport cage is so cramped that the animals cannot stand up and hardly move at all. The large number of birds releases moisture and heat, leading to a very stuffy and hot environment that is at its worst in the summer. If it is cold outside, birds may freeze to death during transportation. Many also die from injuries sustained during loading or transportation.  Hundreds of thousands of chickens die during transportation, just in Sweden, every year. (9)

There are ways to reduce the number of animals who die during transportation. Shorter transports are one effective way. According to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), a maximum transport time of four hours for birds reduces the risk of death. Mechanical ventilation of vehicles also reduces the risk of birds suffocating to death or dying from heat stroke. (1)

  1. EFSA (2011) Scientific Opinion concerning the welfare of animals during transport. Panel on Animal Health and Welfare. EFSA Journal 9(1):1966.
  2. Sällvik K. et al.. (2004) Transport av slaktsvin från gård till slakteri – Studier av klimat, beteende och vibrationer i bilen, skador på djuren samt förslag på förbättringar. Rapport 130, SLU Alnarp.
  3. Gebresenbet G. (2003) Aktuellt forskningsläge kring djurtransporter: utvärdering och rekommendation, Bilaga 11 till SOU 2003:6.
  4. Aradom S. et al. (2012) Effect of Transport Times on Welfare of Pigs. Agricultural Science and Technology A 2 (2012) 544-562.
  5. Algers B. et al. (2006) Kronisk och akut stress av svin i samband med slakt. Effekter av transport och buller på beteende, fysiologi och köttkvalitet hos slaktsvin. Rapport till Jordbruksverket.
  6. Gebresenbet G. & Eriksson B. (1998) Effects of transport and handling on animal welfare, meat quality and environment with special emphasis on tied cows. Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet, Institutionen för lantbruksteknik. Rapport 233.
  7. European Commission. Scientific Committee on Animal Health and Animal Welfare (2002) The welfare of animals during transport (details for horses, pigs, sheep and cattle). Report.
  8. Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 of 22 December 2004 on the protection of animals during transport and related operations and amending Directives 64/432/EEC and 93/119/EC and Regulation (EC) No 1255/97.
  9. Swedish Food Agency. Personal message 2017 and 2020.
Support us

For an end to painful animal transports!

Project 1882 works to put an end to the painful transportation of animals. Help us in our work!

Donate