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Published (Version of record)CC BY-ND V4.0, Open Access
Published (Version of record)CC BY-ND V4.0, Open
Journal article
Welfare of domestic birds and rabbits transported in containers
EFSA journal, Vol.20(9), pp.1-188
09/2022
PMCID: PMC9449994
PMID: 36092767
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Abstract
This opinion, produced upon a request from the European Commission, focuses on transport of domestic birds and rabbits in containers (e.g. any crate, box, receptacle or other rigid structure used for the transport of animals, but not the means of transport itself). It describes and assesses current transport practices in the EU, based on data from literature, Member States and expert opinion. The species and categories of domestic birds assessed were mainly chickens for meat (broilers), end-of-lay hens and day- old chicks. They included to a lesser extent pullets, turkeys, ducks, geese, quails and game birds, due to limited scientific evidence. The opinion focuses on road transport to slaughterhouses or to production sites. For day-old chicks, air transport is also addressed. The relevant stages of transport considered are preparation, loading, journey, arrival and uncrating. Welfare consequences associated with current transport practices were identified for each stage. For loading and uncrating, the highly relevant welfare consequences identified are handling stress, injuries, restriction of movement and sensory overstimulation. For the journey and arrival, injuries, restriction of movement, sensory overstimulation, motion stress, heat stress, cold stress, prolonged hunger and prolonged thirst are identified as highly relevant. For each welfare consequence, animal-based measures (ABMs) and hazards were identified and assessed, and both preventive and corrective or mitigative measures proposed. Recommendations on quantitative criteria to prevent or mitigate welfare consequences are provided for microclimatic conditions, space allowances and journey times for all categories of animals, where scientific evidence and expert opinion support such outcomes.
Details
- Title
- Welfare of domestic birds and rabbits transported in containers
- Creators
- Søren Saxmose NielsenJulio AlvarezDominique Bicout - VetAgro SupPaolo CalistriElisabetta CanaliJulian Ashley DreweBruno Garin-BastujiJose Luis Gonzales RojasChristian Gortázar SchmidtMette HerskinVirginie MichelBarbara PadalinoMiguel Ángel Miranda ChuecaHelen Clare RobertsHans SpoolderKarl StahlArvo ViltropChristoph WincklerEva VoslarovaMalcolm MitchellLeonardo James VincoDenise CandianiOlaf Mosbach-SchulzYves van der StedeAntonio VelardeEFSA Panel on Animal Health and Welfare (AHAW)
- Publication Details
- EFSA journal, Vol.20(9), pp.1-188
- Publisher
- European Food Safety Authority
- Identifiers
- 991013293352002368
- Copyright
- © 2022 European Food Safety Authority. EFSA Journal published by Wiley-VCH GmbH on behalf of European Food Safety Authority. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivs License, which permits use and distribution in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and no modifications or adaptations are made.
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering; Veterinary Science
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article