@article{4448, keywords = {long distance transport, unweaned calves, lack of animal welfare, supplying}, author = {K Herzog and M Biedermann and A Franzky}, title = {The complex of animal welfare problems during long distance transports of unweaned calves}, abstract = {More than one million unweaned calves are transported annually via long-distance transports (> 8 hrs) through the European Union. According to the European transport legislation (Regulation (EC) No. 1/2005), unweaned calves that depend on feeding exclusively with milk or milk-replacer, are allowed to be transported for nine hours before a rest period of at least one hour has to be given. This rest must be sufficient in particular to give liquid and if necessary food to the calves. Thereafter, calves may be transported for further nine hours. After this second period of transport, animals have to be unloaded, fed, watered, and be rested for at least 24 hours. Currently, trucks are neither equipped with automatical nor with manual suitable drinking facilities to provide water or electrolytes and certainly not milk or milk replacer to all animals on the vehicle. Hence, animals usually receive the required liquid and drink supply first during the 24 h rest period following unloading. This is not in accordance with the current law. These long-distance transports along with starvation are a serious stressor negatively affecting the immune system and health of the calves. By changing the European legislation a reduction of the transport duration time of up to a maximum of eight hours for unweaned calves should be provoked, because a sufficient supply of these animals cannot be guaranteed on board of the vehicle during the one hour’s rest.}, year = {2020}, journal = {Berliner und Münchener Tierärztliche Wochenschrift}, volume = {133}, month = {03/2020}, publisher = {Schlütersche Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG}, address = {Hannover}, issn = {0005-9366}, doi = {10.2376/0005-9366-19023}, language = {Englisch}, }