Longer trips are fundamentally undesirable to most industry members, due to the costs involved, and research consistently indicates that any type of transport is stressful to animals. Animals lose weight when transported and some become sick, rendering them unfit for human consumption. When combined with escalating fuel costs, these costs can dramatically cut into a farmer's bottom line.
These circumstances present a challenge to all of the people responsible for ensuring that these animals do not suffer in transit: the farmers who raised them, the truckers who are carrying them and the processing plants who are purchasing them. However, certain steps can be taken to minimize the negative effects and many of these should be incorporated into law to ensure they are followed.
While on-farm animal welfare falls mainly under the jurisdiction of the provinces, the responsibility of ensuring the humane transportation of animals is borne by the the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). The Animal Transportation Regulations referenced in the Health of Animals Act prohibit the transport of ill or injured animals to prevent undue suffering. The CFIA is now conducting its first review of the Animal Transportation Regulations in more than 30 years.
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