Loading Density In-Transit Care

96 Beef Breeder MANUAL easily overlooked. Transportation should commence as soon as possible once the animals have been loaded.

4.3.6. Loading Density

Cattle should be loaded loosely enough that an animal can regain its feet if it falls down Fig. 4.16, Fig. 4.17. The appropriate density to achieve this is dependent on size, weight and horn status of the cattle involved. Horned, pregnant, or cattle in poor condition but strong enough to travel need to be given more space. Special care must be taken with cattle in late pregnancy. Pregnant cows must not be transported at all. Where cattle are loaded Figure 4.16. Loading densities for cattle on trucks. Source: LiveCorp and Meat Livestock Australia - Manual for South-East Asian Cattle Feedlots. 97 Cold Winter Climates Figure 4.17. Suitable loading density of trucks - they may appear loose but the density is ideal. Source: LiveCorp and Meat Livestock Australia. too densely and an animal falls down and it cannot stand up, it can be trampled, leading to stress, injury and production losses. Where cattle are loaded too loosely, they may be injured by being thrown against the sides or onto the loor during transport. Partitioning of large vehicles into smaller pens is essential to minimise risk of injury during travel. Table 4.3 provides a practical guide on the space requirements per head for cattle of diferent weights, and the number of cattle that can be safely accommodated on semi-trailers with a 12.5m long deck and a width of 2.4m. Table 4.3. Recommended area of loor space required per animal for cattle of diferent live weights. Source: Australian Animal Welfare Standards and Guidelines, Land Transport of Livestock, 2012. Mean Live weight kg Floor area m 2 head Number of Head per 12.25 m x 2.4 m deck m 2 head 100 0.31 94 150 0.42 70 200 0.53 55 250 0.77 38 300 0.86 34 350 0.98 30 400 1.05 28 450 1.13 26 500 1.23 24 550 1.34 22 600 1.47 20 650 1.63 18 98 Beef Breeder MANUAL

4.3.7. In-Transit Care

Cattle should be inspected within the irst 30 minutes of their journey to ensure their wellbeing, and about every three hours thereafter, or more often if the opportunity presents. When inspecting the cattle during transit, key things to be observant for include; • All of the cattle are standing - any that are down should be assisted to regain their footing, or if necessary oloaded and treated for any injuries that have been incurred • No animals are exhibiting signs of heat or cold stress • Animals are breathing normally, and are not exhibiting abnormal behaviour in the pens. Cattle should be unloaded, inspected, and rested during extended journeys according to their age and class Table 4.4. During the rest and recovery period, they should be provided with water and hay up until recommencement of the journey. Cattle that are in poor condition, pregnant, or have calves at foot may need to be rested sooner. Throughout the journey, the truck driver needs to be able to maintain contact with persons receiving the cattle, particularly if a change in arrival time is expected.

4.3.8. Unloading