Transportation of livestock: methods, requirements, documents

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Farm development is impossible without the transportation of farm animals. Farmers participate in exhibitions, sell and buy livestock. All these actions require a careful and careful attitude towards animals. To deliver a horse or a cow from one point to another, the farmer needs to properly organize the transportation of livestock, collect the necessary documents and prepare the vehicle.

Delivery by transport company

When transporting farm animals over long distances, it is more convenient to use the services of motor transport companies. Employees of firms that specialize in this area will provide the necessary information to the owner of the farm. But the farmer himself should also have an idea of how cargo is transported in Russia by transport companies.

There are many ways to transport animals across Russia and other countries. For this, the following delivery options are provided:

• Airplanes.
• Sea ships.
• Rail trains.
• By road.

For each method of transporting livestock, it is necessary to collect a package of documents.

Airline Services

Transportation of cattle by plane is carried out by special airlines. Aircraft must be equipped for such cargo. It is necessary that the premises for animals are comfortable and comply with sanitary and hygienic standards. Compartments for the transportation of farm animals should have high-quality sound insulation and a minimum of overloads that occur during the flight.

Loading animals on the plane must be carried out by qualified specialists. Airlines use special platforms with anti-slip coating. In order not to frighten the animals during loading, it should be carried out in a calm environment, with good lighting. You should not yell at cattle and even more so beat.

Conditions for transporting animals by air

For the transportation of farm animals, you need to prepare veterinary documents. In the territory from which transportation is carried out, there should be no quarantine and outbreaks of infectious diseases. Livestock during the flight must be provided with sufficient food and drinking water. To carry out sanitary measures, purchase means for caring for animals, as well as for cleaning aircraft compartments. If the flight provides for landings at airports along the route, then cattle should not be taken out during the stopwill.

Not eligible for air travel:

• Calves less than ten days old.
• Cows during pregnancy.
• Sick animals, including injured.
• Animals with soft embryonic horns.

When transporting animals, they are fixed in a stall to limit mobility. Otherwise, cattle can not only be injured, but also create an emergency in flight.

Documents for the flight

Before transportation, it is necessary to prepare accompanying documents for the transportation of livestock:

• Veterinary passport of the animal.
• Transport Permit from Ministry of Agriculture in writing.
• Permit to transport from veterinary supervision.
• Documents for food transported with the animal (veterinary certificate).
• Bill of lading.
• Transit documents required for international shipments.

Airline staff usually provide assistance with the preparation of documents and advice on preparing animals for transport.

In the application for a flight, indicate:

• Route.
• Total livestock.
• Weight of each animal.
• Total weight if multiple heads are to be sent.
• Purpose of transportation.
• Recommendations for keeping animals during the flight.

If all the rules are followed, the cattle easily endure the flight and will be delivered to their destination inquality presentation.

Sea shipping

Transportation of farm animals by sea is carried out on specially prepared ships. Transportation of livestock by water is possible on cargo barges and merchant-passenger ships, as well as in the holds of sea steamers. Water transport should be equipped with compartments and stalls that can be cleaned when transporting animals.

Special barges are equipped with spacious and clean decks, which must be equipped with mounts to fix livestock during pitching. On the deck, they make a bedding of sawdust or straw and put pens. Separate boxes are made for cattle, and small cattle are transported in groups of 20-25 heads. In the cold season, animals are transported at the bottom of the ship. During the warm months, transportation on the upper deck is possible, provided protection from rain and waves.

Conditions for carriage by sea

Only he althy livestock are allowed before shipping on sea vessels. A month before loading, the animals must be checked by a veterinarian who will make all the necessary vaccinations. The farmer must provide the ship with food for the entire duration of the voyage. Food should be habitual for livestock to prevent the development of gastrointestinal diseases. During the transportation of livestock, it is necessary to check the condition of the animals in a timely manner:

• Maintain food and water availability.
• Clear the stalls of manure.
• Check your general he alth.

When transporting largedistances, it is necessary to provide animals with walking.

Documents for shipping by sea

Package of documents required for transporting animals by sea:

• Veterinary records with vaccination records.
• Permit to transport animals from the Ministry of Agriculture.
• Certificate from the State Veterinary Supervision confirming the absence of quarantine or disease outbreaks in the area.
• Documents for food transported with the animal (veterinary certificate).
• Bill of lading.
• Transit documents are required when transporting abroad.

All certificates, invoices must be filled out correctly and have all the necessary stamps.

Rules for loading animals on board

On the day of loading on a sea vessel, all animals undergo an additional veterinary examination of general he alth and vaccinations. Ladders for loading should be equipped with rigid sides and have anti-slip coating. It is strictly forbidden to use brute physical force, especially beatings. You can not drag cattle by the head, horns and ears. Loading and unloading must be done in good light.

Transportation by train

If farm animals need to be transported over a distance of 300 to 800 km, it is most convenient to use the services of railway companies. The train can transport horses, cows, sheep, goats and poultry. For transportation, special or freight wagons are used.

When transporting livestock in ordinary freight trains, the wagons are thoroughly cleaned and disinfected. Places for animals should be equipped with stalls with feeders and drinkers. Personnel responsible for the transportation of livestock must know the basics of veterinary care, have a first aid kit with the necessary medicines. The train is checked by the veterinary service before being sent.

Conditions for the carriage of animals by rail

Before being loaded into wagons, all animals must undergo a veterinary examination. Vaccinations are done at least a month before the intended departure. Only he althy livestock are allowed to be transported, while there should be no quarantine and infectious diseases in the region.

All pet requirements must be met. The accompanying documents must include a certificate with a stamp of a veterinary certificate and the date of receipt. The validity period is three days from the date of issue. All veterinary certificates must be legibly filled out, have the appropriate stamps and signatures. The invoice must indicate the number of animals to be transported and attach a waybill with the route.

A week before the trip, animals are transferred to two meals a day. Feed for the transportation of farm animals is purchased at livestock depots that have passed veterinary control.

Prepare before loading:

• Feeders.
• Drinkers.
• Feed.
• Drinking water.
• Litter.
• Buckets.
• Toolfor cleaning the stall.

Loading of animals is carried out with the participation of a veterinary specialist in the daytime or in good light. No more than 24 large animals and up to fifty small animals (depending on weight) can be accommodated in the car. When preparing feed and bedding, you need to take into account the number of days needed for transportation, and add two days for possible delays in transit.

Transportation of animals by road

Among all cargo transportation in Russia, transport companies are most in demand for such services. Cars transport any kind of livestock and poultry. This is the most profitable and inexpensive way of transportation over a distance of up to 300 kilometers. Depending on the type of animal, different vehicles are ordered.

Transportation of horses

To transport horses, special vehicles are used - horse carriers. Such transport allows you to deliver the horse a short distance. Cars and trailers are equipped with ventilation, drinkers and feeders. They maintain the optimum temperature for comfortable transportation of horses. The horse trailer is ideal for transporting animals to sporting events.

For farmers who want to transport their own horses, there are trailer rental services. If frequent competitions or exhibitions are planned, then it is better to purchase your own trailer for transporting horses. This will save the animals from unnecessary stress and possible diseases.

Transportation of cattle

For the transportation of bulls and cows, special cars, trailers, semi-trailers-cattle trucks are used. They are equipped with anti-slip floor coverings and separate stalls. Cars must be equipped with an awning from rain and sunlight. Animals may not be transported in vehicles that have previously carried fertilizer or other chemicals.

Care must be taken when transporting cows and bulls. It is unacceptable to frighten and beat animals. When loading, it is necessary to monitor the behavior of livestock to prevent injury and escape. A bedding layer of straw and hay is laid on the floor of the vehicle. In the hot season, the trailer should be equipped with drinkers. In winter, it is necessary to insulate the cattle truck and provide lighting.

Adult and cattle are tied in the direction of travel, and the total weight of the herd must be correctly calculated and evenly distributed in the livestock trailer. It is not necessary to tie small individuals, while you need to allocate a place to rest in a lying position.

Documentation and rules for transportation by car

If all transportation rules are observed, the animals tolerate the road well and reach their destination in good condition:

• If it takes less than six hours to transport livestock, the animals are not fed or cleaned during the journey.
• When transporting for more than six hours, it is necessary to make stops for feeding and cleaning the trailer.
• There must be an escortanimals by staff trained in animal care.
• Food and drinking water must be carefully packed and not put in a trailer with cows and bulls, but transported separately.
• Bulls are transported separately from cows and calves.
• It is unacceptable to transport tethered and non-tethered animals in the same trailer.
• Cattle are transported separately from small cattle.
• In the trailer, animals should be placed so that you can freely approach any individual.
• In case of illness or death of livestock during transportation, a veterinarian must be called and quarantined until the cause of the disease is clarified.
• When driving a vehicle, you must observe the speed limit, do not brake sharply, enter the turn carefully.
• Throughout the route, the accompanying personnel must have all documents for the transportation of livestock.

Required documentation:

• Veterinary passports for all transported animals.
• Certificates and certificates of the absence of quarantine in the region of loading.
• Certificate of the district veterinary station.
• Authorization of the Ministry of Agriculture and transit documents, in case of transportation abroad.
• Permission to transport livestock from the state veterinary supervision.
• Consignment notes indicating the number and type of animals.

If documents are filled out incorrectly, including in different inks, in the absence of seals and signatures, livestock will not be allowed to be transported.

Transportation of livestock by private vehicle

If you want to send small livestock to a neighboring village or village, you can use a private car with a trailer. Cattle in such a situation are distilled on foot. When transporting goats, sheep and poultry, a trailer must be prepared:

• Make a tether fixture.
• Line the bottom with rubber mats, put hay on top.
• Prepare the tent.

For transportation, you must have a veterinary passport with vaccinations. Take along a supply of food, drinking water and cleaning tools. Livestock should be transported carefully, without sharp turns and braking. For transportation, it is better to choose warm, but not hot weather.