EVALUATION OF TRADE CATTLE WELFARE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN THE TRANSPORT VEHICLES, AND ENTRANSIT IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The study was aimed to evaluate the Data on the welfare management practices for trade cattle in the transport vehicles, and during transportation in Nigeria. The trading, and movement of animals across long and short distances have been shown to interfere with their welfare. It has become a well documented fact that welfare, and quality are related, and that poor welfare practices will result in inferior meat quality. A cross sectional survey of traders and drivers involved in the selling, buying and transportation of trade cattle was conducted at Obinze cattle market in Owerri. The data generated were subjected to descriptive statistics. Traders and transporters used mostly trailers and loaded 60 cattle and above in a double deck trailer as against the recommended welfare standard 40 animals in a double decked trailer. Squatting/lying down was the major positioning of the cattle inside the vehicle. Use of bedding materials was generally adopted by the traders and transporters. Animals were not protected from extreme weather entransit. Traders and transporters did not provide feed and water for the animals during journey time. There were no planned stoppages for feeding and watering enroute, even when the drivers covered about 500 to 1400 km distance, spending about 10 to 30 hours entransit. The animal welfare practices during the long distance transportation of cattle from the northern markets to the south were very poor