Caulfield Malcolm P, Cambridge Heather, Foster Susan F, McGreevy Paul D
Vets Against Live Export, Lady Barron PO, Flinders Island, TAS 7255, Australia.
Vets Against Live Export, Lady Barron PO, Flinders Island, TAS 7255, Australia.
Vet J. 2014 Feb;199(2):223-8. doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2013.09.018. Epub 2013 Sep 21.
Recent investigations by the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry into high mortalities on live export voyages from Australia to the Middle East during the Northern hemisphere summer suggest that animal welfare may be compromised by heat stress. The live export industry has generated a computer model that aims to assess the risk of heat stress and to contain mortality levels on live export ships below certain arbitrary limits. Although the model must be complied with under Australian law, it is not currently available for independent scientific scrutiny, and there is concern that model and the mandated space allowances are inadequate. This review appraises the relevant literature on heat stress in sheep and cattle, including laboratory studies aimed at mimicking the ambient temperatures and humidity levels likely to be encountered on live export voyages. Animal welfare is likely to be very poor as a result of heat stress in some shipments.
澳大利亚农业、渔业与林业部近期对北半球夏季从澳大利亚运往中东的活畜出口航次中的高死亡率展开调查，结果表明热应激可能会损害动物福利。活畜出口行业开发了一个计算机模型，旨在评估热应激风险，并将活畜出口船上的死亡率控制在某些任意设定的限度以下。尽管根据澳大利亚法律必须遵守该模型，但目前它尚未可供独立的科学审查，而且有人担心该模型以及规定的空间配额并不充分。本综述评估了有关绵羊和牛热应激的相关文献，包括旨在模拟活畜出口航次中可能遇到的环境温度和湿度水平的实验室研究。在某些运输过程中，热应激可能导致动物福利状况非常糟糕。
