FIT TO TRAVEL
PREPARATION AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR MAKING TRANSPORTATION DECISIONS by Julia Herman, DVM, MS, DACVPM, Beef Cattle Specialist Veterinarian, NCBA, a Contractor to the Beef Checkoff
Cattle health is closely monitored in each sector of the beef industry and continuous improvement is expected from within and outside the industry. Fitness for transport is an important concept that applies to all cattle stages, from calves to feeders to cull cows and bulls. This live animal evaluation is critical to deciding whether an animal is able to withstand the rigors of transport, including standing for long periods of time in variable weather. The most visible aspect of the cattle industry is when cattle are moved across the country on wheels every day. Each stakeholder, from the cattle owner to the transporter, should strive for responsible transport decisions. The 2022 National Beef Quality Audit (www.bqa.org/resources) shows cattle, beef or dairy, are transported at least once and up to six times during their lifetime, so ensuring the health and welfare of these animals at each transport opportunity is a great responsibility. Trips to the auction market, the next pasture, backgrounding or finishing feedyards, and others are each an opportunity to improve animal welfare through transportation and fitness for transport decisions. The Beef Checkoff-funded Beef Quality Assurance Transportation (BQAT) program was designed for guidance on these topics. The following are a few important aspects to consider when determining whether cattle are fit for transport. EVALUATE CATTLE HISTORY Violative residues are created when animals are slaughtered before the labeled withdrawal 36 California Cattleman October 2024
period on the medication label. It is important to always check treatment records and confirm animals have cleared drug withdrawal times before transporting to sale or slaughter. Never ship an animal you do not think can withstand the rigors of transport or marketing. This includes not shipping extremely emaciated animals (Body Condition Score 2 or less on either beef or dairy scale) or cattle with lameness score of 3 or more (according to North American Meat Institute scale of 1-4). Having a plan for caring for or humanely euthanizing a non-ambulatory animal should be part of your protocol since these animals cannot be slaughtered. PREP THE CATTLE It is important to provide cattle access to water up until they load onto the trailer as it improves health in the short term and upon arrival. A modest meal within 24 hours prior to transport, especially trips longer than four hours, has also been shown to improve cattle response during travel and at the destination. This is especially important for younger calves who are more prone to dehydration in hot weather. Duration of transport can have significant animal welfare outcomes and preparing cattle for the trip can improve response to transport stressors. In addition, cattle may have multiple segments of their trip, so ensuring cattle can handle all legs of the trip is an important consideration when deciding to ship that animal.