Collins Teresa, Stockman Catherine A, Barnes Anne L, Miller David W, Wickham Sarah L, Fleming Patricia A
School of Veterinary & Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch WA 6150, Australia.
Animals (Basel). 2018 Nov 15;8(11):209. doi: 10.3390/ani8110209.
Land transport is an unavoidable experience for most livestock, yet there is limited research comparing animal welfare under different conditions. We video recorded sheep responses during short (2 h) commercial road transport journeys. Using Qualitative Behavioural Assessment, observers (blinded to the treatments) scored the behavioural expression of sheep and reached significant consensus in their scoring patterns ( < 0.001). There were also significant effects of vehicle crate design (sheep transported in a 'standard' crate were more / than those transported in a 'convertible' crate), deck position (sheep on upper decks were more / than those on lower decks), and sheep breed (fat-tail sheep were more / than merino sheep) on observer scores. We only found marginal differences for sheep originating from feedlot or saleyard. Significant effects of vehicle driver (included as a random factor in all but one of our analyses) suggest driving patterns contributed to demeanour of the sheep. Finally, the fourteen drivers who participated in the study were asked their opinions on livestock transport; none of the factors we tested were identified by drivers as important for sheep welfare during transport. This study supports the use of qualitative measures in transport and revealed differences that could inform truck design.
陆路运输对大多数牲畜来说是不可避免的经历，但比较不同条件下动物福利的研究有限。我们对绵羊在短途（2小时）商业公路运输行程中的反应进行了视频记录。通过定性行为评估，观察者（对处理方式不知情）对绵羊的行为表现进行评分，并在评分模式上达成了显著共识（<0.001）。车辆货箱设计（运输在“标准”货箱中的绵羊比在“可转换”货箱中的绵羊更……/……）、甲板位置（上层甲板上的绵羊比下层甲板上的绵羊更……/……）以及绵羊品种（肥尾羊比美利奴羊更……/……）对观察者评分也有显著影响。我们仅发现来自饲养场或销售场的绵羊存在细微差异。车辆驾驶员（在我们除一项分析外的所有分析中作为随机因素纳入）的显著影响表明驾驶模式会影响绵羊的行为表现。最后，参与研究的14名驾驶员被问及他们对牲畜运输的看法；我们测试的因素中没有一个被驾驶员认为对运输过程中的绵羊福利很重要。这项研究支持在运输中使用定性测量方法，并揭示了可为卡车设计提供参考的差异。
