Vienna, 28 August 2024 – Suffocating heat, lack of air, and dead animals – this is the grim reality for over 1.5 billion poultry, pigs, unweaned calves, and other farm animals transported within and outside the EU every year. Many become malnourished, sick, dehydrated, or even die of heat stroke during these transports that can last for days or even weeks. Recent investigations by global animal welfare organisation FOUR PAWS have yet again revealed infringements of existing laws as two trucks were observed in Bulgaria transporting cattle in temperatures reaching 37°C. FOUR PAWS criticises the lack of sanctions for exceeding temperature or transport time limits, allowing companies to continue this cruel practice. It further urges decision-makers to halt live animal transports in temperatures below 5°C or above 25°C and implement stricter limits for vulnerable animals like calves and poultry.

Boiled alive: 30°C and more during long journeys across land and sea

During transport, many animals are unable to regulate their body temperature naturally. Dairy cows already feel heat stress when temperatures exceed 20°C. During the investigations in Bulgaria, temperatures almost doubled this and reached up to 37°C, unbearable conditions for animals. On cargo ships, temperatures can even exceed 40°C degrees. Stressed poultry pant through their open beaks since they cannot spread their wings to cool down. Pigs, unable to cool down by wallowing, quickly suffer from heat stress, often resulting in death. Exposing poultry, pigs, and cattle to such temperatures for prolonged periods is extreme cruelty.

In the EU cattle are allowed to be transported by road for up to 29 hours with only a one-hour break, pigs for 24 hours, and poultry and rabbits for twelve hours without a break. After a 24-hour rest, this torturous cycle repeats itself for days or weeks. Even these lax regulations on travel times are frequently ignored by companies due to insufficient sanctions and controls. While land transport already pushes animals to their limits, sea transport is even worse, with journeys lasting for weeks with no regulation on time limits at all.

Highly pregnant cows and motherless starving calves

Unweaned calves account for the most vulnerable animals because they are dependent on a milk diet while separated from their mothers. Transported for 19-21 hours, they do not receive the milk needed to live. Without milk, water and fresh air, many die of starvation, dehydration or heat stroke. Due to their weak immune system, they are susceptible to diseases and some of them die of infections even days after transport has ended. A current example highlights that unweaned calves do not receive any feed during transports by ferry from Ireland to France for 27 hours or more, according to Eurogroup for Animals. This is a shocking example, violating EU law – particularly Council Regulation 1/2005 which aims to protect animals during transport. In 2024, 158,000 calves had to endure the torturous journey out of Ireland so far.

Report animal abuse in transport to save lives

FOUR PAWS asks the public to act if they spot animals in transport vehicles on the road suffering from heat and contact the police immediately and note down or take photos of the number plate.  After contacting the authorities, cases can also be reported to FOUR PAWS. Reporting animal abuse in transport helps to prove and emphasise that stricter laws and implementations are necessary.

FOUR PAWS demands

• Ban on live animal transports to third countries
• Ban on live animal transports by sea
• Ban on transport of unweaned animals
• No animal transports for temperatures below 5°C or above 25°C
• Restrict maximum transport duration to eight hours (four hours for poultry and rabbits)
• Slaughter of animals at the nearest suitable slaughterhouse
• Transport of meat instead of live animals