The effects of 12, 30, or 48 hours of road transport on the physiological and behavioral responses of sheep1

Abstract

To identify long-distance transport durations compatible with acceptable animal welfare, the aim of this study was to determine the responses of healthy sheep to road transport under good conditions for 12, 30, or 48 h. Merino ewes (n = 120; 46.9 +/- 0.39 kg) were allocated to road transport treatments of 12, 30, or 48 h, with 2 replicates per treatment. Blood and urine samples and BW were taken pretransport and at 0, 24, 48, and 72 h posttransport. Lying time was measured using data loggers. Increasing transport durations resulted in reduced (P < 0.001) BW and increased (P < 0.05) hemoconcentration, but these effects did not exceed clinically normal ranges for any transport duration, and sheep generally recovered to pretransport values within 72 h posttransport. Sheep transported for 30 and 48 h had less BW on arrival than sheep transported for 12 h (P < 0.001). There were no differences (P > 0.05) between the 12- and 30-h treatments in sheep BW at 24, 48, or 72 h after arrival. Sheep transported for 30 and 48 h had greater total plasma protein concentrations on arrival than sheep transported for 12 h (P < 0.001). Although the white cell count and neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio increased with transport, there were no consistent effects of transport duration. There were also no effects (P = 0.10) of transport duration on plasma cortisol concentrations. There were no treatment differences (P > 0.05) in lying times during the first 18 h after arrival. Sheep transported for 30 or 48 h lay down less (P < 0.05) than sheep transported for 12 h between 18 and 24 h after arrival, but there were no other differences over 72 h. These findings indicate that healthy adult sheep, transported under good conditions, can tolerate transport durations of up to 48 h without undue compromise to their welfare.

Acute Phase Proteins as Biomarkers in Animal Health and Welfare

“…In ewes, it has been reported that sheep which were transported for 30 and 48 hours, exhibit greater total plasma protein concentrations than those transported for 12 hours. Hp and albumin were considered within the total plasma protein levels (Fisher et al, 2010). More studies should be performed in this topic in order to assess the use of APPs as biomarkers of welfare in sheep and goats.…”

Scientific Opinion Concerning the Welfare of Animals during Transport

“…Results revealed that the lambs transported for 3, 6 and 9 h lost more live weight than untransported lambs, the losses increasing with increasing journey duration. Fisher et al (2010) determined the responses of healthy sheep to road transport under good conditions for 12, 30 or 48 h without access to feed and water on board the vehicle. Increasing transport duration resulted in lower body weight and increased haemoconcentration at arrival, but these effects did not exceed clinically normal ranges for any transport duration, and sheep generally recovered to pre-transport values within 72 h of arrival.…”

Bem-estar dos cordeiros submetidos ao transporte rodoviário e avaliação das carcaças e carnes

“…são realizadas podem determinar o grau do estresse (Tarrant 1990, Fisher et al 2010. A perda de peso corporal, de acordo com a duração das jornadas, e seu efeito sobre as carcaças e carnes, são motivos de preocupação para a indústria e são constantemente investigados (Carter & Gallo 2008, Tadich et al 2009, Leme et al 2012.…”

“…Variações relativas ao comportamento, às respostas dos sistemas nervoso autô-nomo, endocrinológico e imunológico são constantemente avaliadas com este objetivo (Hales & Brown 1974, Ferguson & Warner 2008, Cockram et al 2010, Fisher et al 2010.…”