Animal Welfare in Transportation

Key Concepts

• Sentient Animals: Animals have feelings and experience stress, particularly during the slaughtering process.
  • Signs of stress include vocalization (e.g., mooing, screaming) when one animal is taken from the group.
  • Animals can sense cortisol and other stress indicators during slaughter.

Stress Parameters in Meat Quality

• Stress affects meat quality leading to:
  • Dark, Firm, Dry (DFD): High pH, dark color.
  • Pale, Soft, Exudative (PSE): Low quality, soft texture, pale color.

Handling Standards

• Use of Equipment: Avoid sticks or low-voltage electricity for handling. Recommended tools include plastic nylon or soft ropes to reduce stress.
• Facility Design: Maintain proper design for animal handling (e.g., width of gangways, height, and slope).
• Transportation Practices:
  • Avoid overcrowding in trucks.
  • Consider the season and conditions for transport.
  • Sick or injured animals should not be transported to prevent spreading disease.

Loading and Unloading Practices

• Proper truck design is crucial for easy loading/unloading and minimizing stress. Key requirements include:
  • Sufficient height (minimum 1.3 m) and slope (less than 30°) for gangways.
  • Proper space for headroom above animals (at least 15-30 cm).
  • Non-slip surfaces in vehicles.

Special Considerations for Transport

• Temperature and Humidity: Maintain temperature between 5-30°C for animal comfort.
• Animal Condition: Do not transport:
  • Animals showing distress or injury
  • Pregnant or young animals
  • Animals recently shorn of wool

Best Practices for Transporting Sheep

• Ensure adequate space and bedding (e.g., straw) in vehicles.
• Minimize stress during loading by maintaining quiet environments and gentle handling.
• Smooth driving is essential; avoid sudden movements.
• Transport during cooler times (e.g., nighttime) when possible.

Summary of Video Content

• The video provided insights into proper livestock transportation practices, emphasizing:
  • Pre-transport preparation (resting animals, ensuring proper hydration).
  • Addressing potential transportation issues (e.g., accidents, health checks).
  • The importance of compliance with animal welfare standards.

Discussion Points

• Importance of Animal Welfare: Necessary for high-quality meat production.
• Differences observed between local and international transportation standards.
  • Local transportation often neglects conditions like temperature and space.
• Need for better training and standards in Indonesia compared to established practices in other countries such as Australia.

Conclusion

• Recognizing the psychological and physiological needs of animals is crucial in improving their welfare during handling and transport. Continuous education and adherence to standards will enhance meat quality and overall animal welfare.