The Ethics of a Co-regulatory Model for Farm Animal Welfare Research

Behavioral and physiological responses of livestock to simulated and actual transport by sea

“…However, in the same report, they found that the time spent by sheep lying down (one of the priority behaviours on board, especially in long distance travel) was significant ly reduced by high stocking density. Additionally, Phillips and Petherick (2014) in a review of this report pointed out that the ASEL case studies (Ferguson and Lea, 2013) have conclusions favourable to the industry. They emphasise that further research studies with robust experimental designs and analyses are needed to prove the ASEL current standard is scientifically defensible to maintain a high level or animal welfare.…”

“…Broom and Fraser (2007) reject the use of stocking rates in this way because these do not take account of variation in animal weight. For research purposes, manipulating the space available is preferable to varying the group size (Phillips and Petherick, 2014). Animals in a group share space in time, and the area provided should be sufficient for the performance of key behaviours: standing up (rising), lying down, turning around and accessing feed and water (Petherick, 2007).…”

“…There is a scientific consensus that the space provided to an animal should increase with the duration of the journey (Petherick, 2007;Petherick and Phillips, 2009;Broom, 2008;Phillips and Santurtun, 2013;Phillips and Petherick 2014). In fact, Black et al (1994) pointed out that mortality rate increases with voyage duration, and the main causes of death are suffocation, pneumonia, inanition and dehydration, probably as a consequence of overcrowding.…”

“…In fact, Black et al (1994) pointed out that mortality rate increases with voyage duration, and the main causes of death are suffocation, pneumonia, inanition and dehydration, probably as a consequence of overcrowding. During long distance travel the stocking density is extremely important to perform essential behaviours (Phillips and Petherick, 2014), principally to maintain normal posture, postural adjustments and stability maintenance without provoking a risk of injury or physiological stress (Cockram et al, 1996). The last authors recommended that for journeys more than 3 hours there should be a minimum space of 0.27 m 2 per sheep of 35 kg live weight.…”

“…The last authors recommended that for journeys more than 3 hours there should be a minimum space of 0.27 m 2 per sheep of 35 kg live weight. Phillips and Petherick (2014) pointed out that the space is particularly crucial in long transport by sea because there is a likelihood of physical and social interactions during the rolling and vertical motion of ship. Ferguson and Lea (2013) reported an interaction between duration and stocking density: sheep travelling 14 days at low space allowance (0.2772 m 2 /head, or 10% less than ASEL) spent significantly less time lying down than those with a higher space allowance (0.339 m 2 /head), but not at the end of the voyage (Figure 3).…”