Source: Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) reminds everyone involved in the transport process to take appropriate measures to protect animals from the effects of extreme weather.
Animal welfare is a shared responsibility and collaboration between regulated parties is required. Every person transporting animals in Canada is legally obligated to ensure that no part of the journey is likely to cause suffering, injury or death.
Regulations apply to anyone involved directly or indirectly in the transport process which includes animal owners, producers, shippers, drivers, and operators of abattoirs, assembly centres and feedlots. This includes preparation for loading, loading the animals, holding animals on a stationary vehicle, transporting and unloading them.
When the weather is hot and humid, extra measures must be taken to protect every animal from potential suffering, injury, or death that would be caused by, or made worse by, inadequate ventilation and weather conditionsFootnote 1.
Special attention should be given to pigs and poultry because they do not have sweat glands and are therefore very sensitive to heat stress, particularly when confined in stationary vehicles, with passive ventilation.
Extra measures may include:
- delay loading and transport during extremely hot periods
- reduce loading density
- minimize stress when handling animals to prevent overheating
- contingency plans and procedures (SOP) for hot and humid weather (for example, what to do in case of traffic jam, mechanical breakdown or accident, or if the unloading is delayed at destination, etc.)
- having arrangements made in advance or call ahead and communicate when delivering animals to avoid any unloading delays at destination (for example, just in time for slaughter or immediate unloading to holding areas, redirect the load to another slaughter establishment or holding facility, establish a system allowing the transporter to drive around to allow for ventilation, providing water, etc.)
- provide sufficient ventilation at all times, including when the vehicle is stopped, during the loading operations and when animals are confined in the vehicle while waiting to be unloaded ‐ Always consider ventilation, especially when stopped
- monitor weather conditions closely and adjust ventilation accordingly
- park in the shade
- minimize the stop number, and duration to prevent the build-up of heat
For additional information, consult the species specific National Farm Animal Care Council’s Codes of Practice for the care and handling of farm animals.
When the agency identifies non-compliance with the legislation it administers and enforces (in this case, the Health of Animals Regulations, and the Safe Food for Canadian Regulations), it has a number of tools it can use to respond. Learn more about compliance and enforcement activities.
See Humane transport and animal welfare for more information on livestock transport requirements in Canada, including transport practices, provincial requirements, fitness for transport and special provisions.
See Humane treatment of food animals at the slaughter establishment and Guidelines for the humane care and handling of food animals at slaughter for more information on the care of the food animals before being slaughtered at a federally licenced slaughter establishment.
