Cramer M C, Pempek J A, Román-Muñiz I N, Edwards-Callaway L N
Department of Animal Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523.
USDA-Agricultural Research Service Livestock Behavior Research Unit, West Lafayette, IN 47907.
JDS Commun. 2023 Nov 17;5(3):259-263. doi: 10.3168/jdsc.2023-0452. eCollection 2024 May.
The objectives of this symposium review are to summarize relevant research and key welfare issues relative to calf transportation and identify strategies to mitigate welfare challenges. An important animal welfare concern across the US dairy industry is the transportation of preweaning calves from the source dairy to a calf-raising facility (e.g., calf ranches, heifer raising facilities, veal operations), auction, livestock market, or directly to slaughter. Millions of calves are transported annually in the United States and calf transport has garnered increased attention. Transportation stressors include limited (if any) access to food and water, commingling, environmental temperature changes, and a variety of handling techniques. Calves in the United States are often transported at an average age of 3 d, and in many cases, less than 24 h of age. Neonates are particularly vulnerable to transportation stressors due to their decreased ability to thermoregulate, underdeveloped immune system, and immature physiologic stress responses. In addition to age, fitness for transport is a key welfare consideration; recent data from the United States demonstrate that some source dairies transport compromised calves (i.e., dehydration, diarrhea, navel inflammation, and so on), leading to important welfare challenges during transportation. Calves arriving at US veal facilities have been reported to be dehydrated, lethargic, hypoglycemic, and may also have poor body condition, navel inflammation, and diarrhea. Thus, there is ample opportunity to target decision-making and producer-focused education not only at the source dairy, but also at each stage of transportation to address critical welfare concerns. In addition, the supply chain and procurement model that influence calf transport practices should be evaluated to determine potential opportunities to improve calf welfare. Here, we provide 5 potential strategies to improve the welfare of transported calves: (1) provide excellent newborn care that "preconditions" calves for transport, (2) assess calves' fitness-for-transport to ensure they can withstand the journey, (3) handle calves with care, (4) wait until calves are older to transport, and (5) reduce transport duration.
本次研讨会综述的目的是总结与犊牛运输相关的研究及关键福利问题,并确定应对福利挑战的策略。美国乳制品行业一个重要的动物福利问题是将断奶前犊牛从原奶牛场运输到犊牛饲养场(如犊牛牧场、小母牛饲养场、小牛肉生产场)、拍卖会、牲畜市场或直接运往屠宰场。在美国,每年有数百万头犊牛被运输,犊牛运输日益受到关注。运输应激源包括食物和水的获取受限(若有)、混群、环境温度变化以及各种处理技术。美国的犊牛通常在平均3日龄时运输,在许多情况下,运输时犊牛年龄不足24小时。新生犊牛由于体温调节能力下降、免疫系统发育不全以及生理应激反应不成熟,特别容易受到运输应激源的影响。除了年龄,运输适宜性也是关键的福利考量因素;美国最近的数据表明,一些原奶牛场运输健康状况不佳的犊牛(如脱水、腹泻、肚脐发炎等),这在运输过程中引发了重要的福利挑战。据报道,抵达美国小牛肉生产场的犊牛脱水、无精打采、低血糖,身体状况可能也很差,肚脐发炎且腹泻。因此,不仅有充分机会针对原奶牛场,而且在运输的每个阶段以决策制定者和生产者为重点开展教育,以解决关键的福利问题。此外,应评估影响犊牛运输做法的供应链和采购模式,以确定改善犊牛福利的潜在机会。在此,我们提供5种改善运输中犊牛福利的潜在策略:(1)提供优质的新生护理,使犊牛为运输做好“准备”;(2)评估犊牛的运输适宜性,确保它们能够承受运输旅程;(3)小心处理犊牛;(4)等犊牛长大一些再运输;(5)缩短运输时长。