Nonambulatory livestock transport: the need for consensus.

The disparity in veterinary recommendations on the fitness of nonambulatory livestock for transport and other recent information indicate that the growing concern of the public, the industry, and the veterinary profession about the fate of these animals in Canada is well founded. Incompatible perceptions among provinces and within each sector, including the veterinary profession, are apparent. As a profession, veterinarians need a common understanding of what comprises “fitness for transport” and humane methods for the handling of compromised livestock. The focus of this article is on making a decision whether or not such animals should be loaded onto a transport vehicle, and Canadian veterinarians are invited to provide input to the development of a nationwide consensus. Animal welfare issues regarding livestock can be contentious, due to their direct conflict with economic and competitive pressures. With regard to nonambulatory livestock, self-regulating bodies are quickly moving ahead of current legislation. Con sumer opinions and expectations regarding animal welfare have proven to be a major driving force — so major that food chains and restaurants have developed animal welfare standards that their suppliers must meet. Such developments require that Canadian producers keep up with societal expectations, so that they are not disadvantaged, and consumer confidence in the Canadian agriculture industry is maintained both at home and abroad. In order to guide the industry's approach to meeting consumer demands and to offer the best advice to producers, veterinarians must be aware of these advancements. Review of standards and legislation The Health of Animals Regulations prohibit loading or transport, by air, land, or water, of an animal that “by reason of infirmity, illness, injury, fatigue, or any other cause cannot be transported without undue suffering during the expected journey” (1). This would include a large animal that is unable to stand without assistance or is unable to move without being dragged or carried. Such animals are referred to as “nonambulatory” or, more commonly, “downers.” Each province has its own animal health legislation, which may or may not encompass the humane transportation of animals. While some provinces have made their positions very clear, most have only broad guidelines in place. The farm veterinarian is left to interpret these guidelines and make a judgment call. This leads to large discrepancies in the assessment of identical or very similar cases. Ontario is the only province requiring veterinary certification of a nonambulatory animal before it is allowed to be loaded (2). Most provinces allow on-farm slaughter as an alternative way of dealing with nonambulatory livestock. However, provincial legislation differs as to whether the carcass is restricted to private consumption. If the carcass can be taken to a processing facility for postmortem inspection and sale, the financial loss for the producer is less severe. A peek across our borders illustrates how other countries deal with nonambulatory livestock. The European Union allows the transport of animals as long as it does not entail further suffering of the animals (3). In Britain, animals may not be dragged, pushed, or lifted, and loading of nonambulatory animals may only commence in the presence of a veterinarian (4). Germany has gone one step further by listing conditions that make an animal unfit for transport as part of its Animal Welfare Transportation Order. This order also mandates veterinary certification for transport and on-farm slaughter for those animals not found to be fit for such transportation (5). A U.S. federal bill, currently under review, makes it unlawful for any stockyard owner, market agency, or dealer to buy, sell, give, receive, transfer, market, hold, or drag any nonambulatory livestock unless the nonambulatory livestock has been humanely euthanized (6). California has incorporated a “Downed Animal Law” as part of the Penal Code and has prohibited any slaughterhouse not inspected by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, stockyard, or auction from buying, selling, or receiving nonambulatory animals (7). The City of Cincinnati passed an ordinance that bars transportation or delivery of nonambulatory animals, due to the impossibility of transporting them humanely (8). The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) takes the position that animals that are down, but not in extreme distress, should be treated. Animals in extreme distress should be slaughtered on-farm or euthanized (9). The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association's (CVMA) position statement regarding nonambulatory livestock states “If the animal is to be moved to a suitable processing facility, a veterinary inspection of the nonambulatory animal must be performed on the premises of origin. The animal must be accompanied by an antemortem veterinary certificate declaring whether the animal can or cannot be humanely loaded, that the animal is fit for slaughter and that the owner has observed all applicable withdrawal times for drugs used. The loading and transportation of nonambulatory animals must be performed in a manner to avoid pain, suffering and distress to the animal and upon arrival at the processing facility the animal must be humanely stunned or euthanized on the vehicle prior to unloading. Equipment currently being used includes slide boards and mats, forklifts, front-end loaders, hand carts, slings, “cow caddys” and stone boats or sleds. In those situations where the nonambulatory animal is passed for slaughter, but where the veterinarian deems loading and transportation inhumane, the CVMA recommends on-farm slaughter. Nonambulatory animals deemed unfit for slaughter should be humanely euthanized on-farm and the carcass disposed of in accordance with local regulations” (10). Industry stakeholders have introduced their own policies. For example, Burger King prohibits their U.S. suppliers from using meat from nonambulatory animal sources or from actively procuring such animals (11), and the company is in the process of asking the same standard from its Canadian suppliers. McDonald's Canada prohibits the use of downer cattle in their raw material specifications (12). The Animal Welfare Audit Program is a U.S. national program cooperatively developed with the National Council of Chain Restaurants, the Food Marketing Institute, and the producer community. The policy regarding nonambulatory livestock under this program is identical to the position statement issued by the AVMA, with the additional prohibition of dragging or pulling a downer animal by its extremities (13). The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is responsible for enforcing the humane transportation of all animals in accordance with the federal Health of Animals Regulations (1). The CFIA's Compromised Animals Policy provides general guidelines on the evaluation of fitness of compromised animals for transport and options for the handling of nonambulatory livestock on arrival at federally inspected slaughter plants. Through collaboration with stakeholders, the Canadian Agri-Food Research Council has developed voluntary animal care standards, which are described in the “Recommended code of practice for the care and handling of farm animals” series. Section 6 of the transportation code provides advice on the evaluation and handling of animals that are “at risk” and require special consideration before it is decided whether they should be loaded for transport. This includes nonambulatory animals (14).

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