The Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order 1997

PART II ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS FOR THE TRANSPORT OF CATTLE, SHEEP, PIGS, GOATS AND HORSES

Loading equipment

10.—(1) Animals shall be loaded and unloaded in accordance with this paragraph.

(2) Save as provided in sub-paragraphs (6) and (7) below they shall be loaded and unloaded using suitable ramps, bridges, gangways or mechanical lifting gear, operated so as to prevent injury or unnecessary suffering to any animal.

(3) The flooring of any loading equipment shall be constructed so as to prevent slipping.

(4) Subject to sub-paragraph (6) below, ramps, bridges, gangways and loading platforms shall be provided on each side with protection which is—

(a) of sufficient strength, length and height to prevent any animal using the loading equipment from falling or escaping; and

(b) positioned so that it will not result in injury or unnecessary suffering to any animal.

(5) Sub-paragraph (4) above shall not apply to ramps used on a vehicle for loading horses if—

(a) the vehicle has been specifically constructed for the carriage of horses; and

(b) loading and unloading is only effected by leading each horse into or out of the vehicle.

(6) An animal may be loaded or unloaded by means of manual lifting or carrying if the animal is of a size that it can easily be lifted by not more than two persons and the operation is carried out without causing injury or unnecessary suffering to the animal.

(7) An animal may be loaded or unloaded without equipment or by manual lifting or carrying provided that, having regard to the age, height and species of the animal, it is unlikely to be caused injury or unnecessary suffering by being loaded or unloaded in this manner.

Internal ramps and means of lifting

11.—(1) Animals shall be moved from one floor or deck of a vehicle, vessel or receptacle to another in accordance with this paragraph.

(2) Save as provided in sub-paragraph (4) below, suitable ramps or mechanical lifting gear shall be used and operated so as to prevent injury or unnecessary suffering to any animal.

(3) Where a ramp or mechanical lifting gear is used it shall be—

(a) provided on each side with protection which is of sufficient strength, length and height to prevent any animal using it from falling or escaping;

(b) positioned so that it will not result in injury or unnecessary suffering to any animal; and

(c) of a gradient which is suitable to the age and species of the animals concerned.

(4) Manual lifting or carrying may be used if the animal is of a size that can easily be lifted by no more than two persons and the movement is carried out without causing injury or unnecessary suffering to the animal.

Tying

12.  When animals are tied, the ropes or other attachments used shall be—

(a) strong enough not to break during normal transport conditions;

(b) designed in such a way as to eliminate any danger of strangulation or injury, and

(c) long enough to allow the animals, if necessary, to lie down and to eat and drink.

13.  Animals shall not be tied by the horns, or by nose rings.

Segregation of animals

14.—(1) Save as provided in sub-paragraphs (2) and (4), the following animals shall not be carried in an undivided vehicle, rail wagon, pen or receptacle with other animals—

(a) a cow accompanied by a calf or calves it is suckling;

(b) a sow accompanied by unweaned piglets;

(c) a mare with a foal at foot;

(d) a bull over 10 months of age;

(e) a breeding boar over 6 months of age; or

(f) a stallion.

(2) Bulls may be carried with other bulls, boars with other boars and stallions with other stallions if they have been raised in compatible groups or are accustomed to one another.

(3) Save as provided in sub-paragraph (4), animals shall be segregated according to species.

(4) Animals of any species may be carried in the same undivided vehicle, rail wagon, pen or receptacle as their companion animals if separation would cause either of the animals distress.

(5) No unsecured animal shall be carried in the same undivided vehicle, rail wagon, pen or receptacle as any animal which is secured other than—

(a) unweaned young transported with their dam or other animal which they are suckling, or

(b) a horse registered under the Rules of Racing accompanied by an animal which is its companion.

(6) No animal shall be carried with another animal if, having regard to the differences in age and size between those animals, injury or unnecessary suffering is likely to be caused to one or both of the animals.

(7) Measures shall be taken to avoid injury or unnecessary suffering to any animal as a result of the carriage in the same vehicle, rail wagon, pen or receptacle of animals which are hostile to each other or are fractious.

(8) Measures shall be taken to avoid any animal being caused injury or unnecessary suffering by an animal which becomes fractious during the journey.

(9) Uncastrated male adults shall be segregated from females unless they have been raised in compatible groups or are accustomed to one another.

(10) Horned cattle shall be segregated from unhorned cattle unless they are all secured.

(11) Broken horses shall be segregated from unbroken horses.

(12) Segregation of animals in rail wagons may be effected either by means of suitable partitions or, if space permits, by tying them in separate parts of the rail wagon.

Restrictions on lifting, dragging and use of force on animals

15.—(1) Without prejudice to the provisions of article 6(6), animals shall not be suspended by mechanical means, nor lifted or dragged by the head, horns, legs, tail or fleece.

(2) No person shall use excessive force to control animals.

(3) Subject to sub-paragraph (4) below, no person shall use—

(a) any instrument which is capable of inflicting an electric shock to control any animal;

(b) any stick, goad or other instrument or thing to hit or prod any cattle of six months or under; or

(c) any stick (other than a flat slap stick or a slap marker), non-electric goad or other instrument or thing to hit or prod any pigs.

(4) The prohibition in sub-paragraph (3)(a) above shall not apply to the use of any instrument of a kind mentioned in that sub-paragraph, on the hindquarters of any cattle over the age of six months or on adult pigs which are refusing to move forward when there is space for them to do so, but the use of any such instrument shall be avoided as far as possible.

(5) Nothing in this provision shall prevent the suspension by mechanical means of a receptacle in which an animal is being carried.

Duties of attendants

16.—(1) The attendant or consignor’s agent shall look after the animals, and, if necessary, feed, water and milk them.

(2) Animals in milk shall be milked at appropriate intervals and, in the case of cows in milk, that interval shall be about 12 hours but shall not exceed 15 hours.

Special provisions for horses

17.  When transported in groups, horses shall—

(a) wear halters unless they are unbroken animals, and

(b) have their hind feet unshod.

18.  Horses shall not be transported in vehicles with more than one deck in operation.

19.  Where they are transported in rail wagons and are not in individual stalls, horses shall be tied in such a way that they are all facing the same side of the rail wagon or each other. Foals and unbroken animals shall not be tied.

20.  When transported by water each horse shall be carried in a stall or receptacle without any other animal, except that small ponies, small asses, small mules and unbroken horses may be carried in groups and a mare may be carried with her foal at foot.

21.  When transported by water in individual stalls, horses shall be carried athwartships unless the horses are in a vehicle which is on a vessel which has effective stabilisers in operation.

Special provisions for transport by rail

22.  When transported by rail, large animals shall be loaded in such a way as to allow an attendant to move between them.

Special provisions for transport by water

23.  Vessels used for the transport of animals shall, before sailing, be provided with sufficient supplies of liquid for drinking (unless they are equipped with a suitable system allowing its production) and appropriate foodstuffs, having regard to the species and number of animals being transported as well as the duration of the voyage.