S04 AF Jan_Feb 2022 Free range_Layout 1 27/01/2022 13:29 Page 12
POULTRY
Animal welfare in poultry farming is an essential part of poultry production. Hence, it is necessary to ensure their welfare during transport.
Your guide to transporting birds safely Image credit: Adobe Stock
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HEN BIRDS HAVE finished their productive cycle or there is a change in the development stage, they must be moved. For this reason, the mobilisation of animals must comply with animal welfare parameters that ensure their comfort. For this purpose, poultry transport containers are manufactured under technical standards that provide safety, comfort, and ease in the transport operation. Animal welfare in poultry farming is an essential part of poultry production. Hence, it is necessary to guarantee welfare and comfort conditions during transport. To achieve stress-free birds, a good choice of transport containers is necessary. Therefore, the containers in which the birds travel must meet all legal, ethical, and technical standards. Carfed International offers a range of options for seamless poultry transportation. Mondial Carfed (80x60x28 cm) is a special plastic crate for live poultry transportation and is easy to assemble using the special joints on the top and on the sides.
Transport boxes or containers for poultry should be manufactured and designed according to the animal welfare laws of the country.
Maxi Carfed (99x58x42 cm) is a plastic live turkey crate with ribs for good ventilation and easy washing. It is built with big openings so that birds are not bruised. The Super Carfed JOLLY (99x58x26 cm), Super Carfed 2P (99x58x26 cm) and the Mini Carfed (65x46x11 cm) are other strong crates that are used for transportation. Multi carfed ‘T’ is a removable, collapsible and strong cage for transporting turkeys.
Transport containers for poultry should be properly arranged, adjusted, and ordered in the transport vehicle. Mondial Carfed is a special plastic crate for live poultry transportation and is easy to assemble. The loading and transport process should avoid injuries to the birds. Injuries and wounds generated in birds are detrimental to animal welfare in poultry farming. Ensuring a good transport container for poultry offers productive and economic advantages. Recommendations for safe poultry transport ● The transport vehicle should be thoroughly washed and
disinfected before loading the birds and correctly positioning them in the marked areas. ● Temperature stability in the transport vehicle should be ensured to avoid stress due to temperature changes in the birds, which affects animal welfare. ● Birds should not be deprived of feed or water, before and during the transportation phase. ● Steps should be taken to protect birds against adverse weather conditions, especially over long distances. Birds should be loaded during hot weather and transported during the cooler 12 African Farming - January/February 2022
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