GOAT WELFARE DURING TRANSPORT
Şeniz Öziş Altınçekiç, Mehmet Koyuncu
Uludag University Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Animal Science, 16059, Görukle, Bursa, Turkiye
senizozis@gmail.com
Animal welfare is the combination of subjective and objective criteria of the life conditions of animals, including health and disease, behavior, husbandry and management. Transportation is an important activity of the farming industry and it is a topical controversial area of animal welfare. A high proportion of goats are transported at some stage in their lives, sometimes to places where food is more readily available, sometimes to a different owner or a different place of keeping and sometimes to slaughter. Transport can potential be stressfull for goats, as they are subjected to unfamiliar sights, sounds, smells, movements and processes of loading and unloading from the vehicle. Owners should therefore plan the process carefully to ensure that any risks to goat welfare are avoided. The frequency and duration of journeys should be minimised, whilst the conditions during transport should be optimised. The handling, loading, transporting and unloading of animals can have very substantial effects on their welfare. Distress during handling and transport of goats should be minimized. Goats should have an access to fresh water and feed during the rest periods on a long haul. Restraining and handling facilities should be free of sharp edges and objects. Goats in lactation require special care to assure comfort, and avoid udder injury and mastitis subsequent to transport. However, to maintain high standards of goat welfare, it is important to train employees in the farm.
Keywords: goat; transportation; welfare
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