Animal transportation
Over 60 billion animals are reared for food each year worldwide. Many are transported over long distances, both within and betwen countries, just to be slaughtered at their destination.
Transportation can be the most stressful part of a farm animal's short life. They are often forced to go long periods without any food, water or rest. It is not uncommon for animals to stand and lie in their own waste, or be forced to endure extreme heat or cold without adequate ventilation or bedding materials. Some animals die from stress-related illnesses, diseases caught en route, or simply being crushed. Those that live often struggle to walk when being unloaded.
During the journey, animals are often deprived of food, water and rest for long periods of time, and are subjected to a variety of physical stressors, including vehicle vibrations, noise, temperature extremes, wind and exhaust fumes. Mixing animals from different farms can cause anxiety, psychological stress, physical exhaustion and aggression, and crowded conditions often prevent animals from standing in their natural position and from being able to lie down. Many arrive weak and fatigued at the slaughterhouse, where the stress of unloading may result in injuries.
Animal transport in Canada
© WSPA
Every year, more than 700 million animals are slaughtered in Canada for food. But before that they travel. They endure gruelling journeys, often over long distances, from farms to auctions and feedlots, across borders, and finally to slaughterhouses.
Canada puts no limit on how long the entire journey can be, and the food, water and rest intervals are among the longest in the industrialized world. While the EU prohibits the transport of most species for longer than eight hours without food, water or rest, in Canada, horses, pigs and poultry can be transported for up to 36 hours without food, water, and being unloaded for a rest. For cattle, sheep and goats, the limit is 52 hours. What's more, the moment animals cross the Canadian border, the clock is reset to zero.
Curb the Cruelty - WSPA's report
© WSPA
In 2010, WSPA published findings from a review of Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) reports, used to assess compliance with Canadian animal transportation regulations. The reports, which were submitted between October 2008 and January 2009, were obtained from the CFIA through the Access to Information Act.
WSPA's key findings:
1) Unacceptable numbers of animals are dying during transport
2) Animals are transported in overcrowded conditions
3) Severely injured, crippled and sick animals are transported in contravention of regulations
4) Severely compromised animals are transported and left to suffer for prolonged periods
5) A shortage of specially-trained animal welfare inspectors, particularly veterinarians, puts animal health and welfare at risk
6) CFIA's reporting and enforcement are often weak and inconsistent
7) Animals suffer as a result of poor driver training
Read WSPA's 'Curb the Cruelty' report in full >>
What you can do
WSPA is urging Canadians to write to their MPs, asking them to support stronger animal transport regulations and enforcement.
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