Context
The European regulations on the welfare of farm animals are currently being revised. In December 2023, the European Commission published its Proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on the protection of animals during transport and related operations, amending Regulation (EC) No 1255/97 and abrogating Regulation (EC) No 1/2005 currently in force. This revision is intended to update regulatory requirements in light of the latest scientific advances on animal welfare during transport, and is based on expert opinions published by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) at the request of the European Commission. The draft revision of Regulation 1/2005 suggests higher space allowances (lower densities) than those in Regulation 1/2005, in order to improve the space available to the animals being transported and hence their welfare.
Following the publication of the draft revision, professional livestock and transport organizations raised concerns about an increased risk of birds falling or piling on top of one another with lower loading densities in transport crates. To support its arguments during European discussions, the BBEA the DGAL referred the matter to the FRCAW answer the following question:“Are [poultry] transported by road at the densities and heights specified in the proposed revision of Regulation 1/2005 at greater risk of piling up and/or injuring themselves than [poultry] transported by road at the densities and heights specified in the current regulation (Regulation 1/2005)?”
The FRCAW report FRCAW the key points of the EFSA opinion on the welfare of poultry during transport, focusing exclusively on information regarding the risks of injury and crowding associated with transport density (floor space and crate height).
It examines three areas:
- A review of the scientific literature on the impact of increased floor space on the risk of injury and the impact of increased pallet height on stacking behavior;
- The effects of reduced stocking density on poultry stress;
- Other factors that increase the risk of injury and/or crowding during the transport of poultry.
Main conclusions of the FRCAW
- Reducing the stocking density in transport crates (i.e., increasing the floor area and height of the crates) mitigates the adverse effects of restricted movement, including stress in poultry;
- An increase in floor space appears to lead to more injuries, but the data do not allow us to draw conclusions about the cause of these injuries, which could be due to other factors such as the capture and loading or unloading of poultry;
- A transport crate height that allows birds to sit in a natural posture (with their heads held high without their crests touching the ceiling), move around, and change positions inside the crate, but without being able to stand in a natural posture, reduces stress on the birds without increasing the risk of injury;
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- Temperature and humidity: at low temperatures, high stocking density in the crates appears to help the birds cope better with cold stress. Conversely, at high temperatures, increasing the available space helps the birds regulate their body temperature;
- Methods for capturing and loading/unloading poultry;
- Total time spent at the checkout.
