Avoiding Heat and Cold
Stress In Transported Sheep
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Version (232 KB)
Table of Contents
- Best Practices in any Weather
- Precautions in Cold Weather
- Signs of Animal Discomfort(Cold Stress)
During Transportation
- Precautions in Hot/Humid Weather
- Signs of Animal Discomfort (Heat Stress/Overcrowding)
During Transportation
- Wind Chill Factor
- Maximum Trailer Loading Density-Sheep (Metric)
- Maximum Trailer Loading Density-Sheep (Imperial)
Heat and cold stress can be avoided in transported sheep by planning
ahead. Check on the weather before leaving. At anytime during the
trip, know what you can do to reduce the effects of severe weather
on the sheep. Change the timing of the trip if necessary.
The following are extracts from the Canadian Agri-Food Research
Council's (CARC) Recommended Codes of Practice for the Care and
Handling of Farm Animals - the Sheep and Transportation Codes.
Best Practices in any Weather
- Ensure that all animals intended for transport are fit to be
transported.
- Stop and check on the sheep after the first hour of the trip
and every 2-3 hours afterwards.
- Sheep must be protected during transit to prevent suffering
caused by exposure to severe weather conditions.
- Sufficient ventilation must be available at all times while
the sheep are in the vehicle. Aerodynamic airfoils installed on
truck tractors to enhance fuel efficiency must not restrict the
airflow into the trailer necessary for ventilation and cooling.
- Appropriate measures must be taken to prevent engine exhaust
from entering the area occupied by the sheep.
- Ventilation should be adjustable from the outside of the vehicle.
As the temperature changes during a trip, adjustments can be made
without unloading the sheep. The use of adjustable weather panels
is an effective way to achieve this.
- Reduce loading density to 85% of maximum for trips in excess
of 24 hours to allow room for sheep to lie down.
Precautions in Cold Weather
- Sheep need to be protected from freezing rain and wind blowing
into the sides of the truck because it increases their loss of
heat and can cause death from hypothermia, even at temperatures
above freezing.
- Young and recently shorn sheep are particularly susceptible
to frostbite and loss of body heat during transportation.
- Remove wet bedding after each trip to prevent it from freezing
onto the truck.
Signs of Animal Discomfort (Cold
Stress) During Transportation
- Wet sheep
- Eating of available bedding
- Fluids frozen to the face or nostrils
During Winter Travel
- Increased bedding or insulation is necessary in cold weather.
- Increased loading density beyond recommendations can predispose
to frostbite in individual animals because it prevents them from
repositioning in the truck.
- Cover openings to protect sheep from cold winds caused by movement.
Wind chill lowers the effective environmental temperature and
can cause frostbite.
- Protect sheep on the side of the truck that is exposed to a
cold crosswind.
- Replace bottom slats in vehicles to protect from the cold and
road splash.
- Adjust openings to balance the need for protection from wind
chill with the need for adequate ventilation.
- Close nose vents.
- Take precautions to protect lambs. They must be kept dry and
provided with an adequate supply of bedding.
Precautions in Hot/ Humid Weather
- Take precautions to avoid stress, suffering and possibly death
caused by the combination of high temperature and high humidity.
- Sheep require sufficient floor space to allow for adequate ventilation
and a reasonable level of comfort.
- Severe heat build-up may result from overcrowding. Reduce loading
density to 85% of maximum in hot/humid weather.
- Keep frequency and length of stops where sheep are not off-loaded
to a minimum during transit to prevent rapid build-up of heat
inside the vehicle.
- Protect shorn sheep from prolonged exposure to direct sunlight
to prevent sunburn.
Signs of Animal Discomfort (Heat
Stress/Overcrowding) During Transportation
- Overcrowded load will not "settle"; sheep continue
to scramble for footing and the load continues to be noisy for
prolonged periods of time. Sheep involuntarily lie down and are
unable to get up.
- Sheep pant when overheated; animals standing with neck extended
and with open-mouthed breathing are in a dangerous situation.
During Summer Travel
- Handle sheep carefully because exertion in hot/humid weather
is particularly stressful and increases the chances of heat stroke.
- Allow every animal to rest when over-exerted.
- Sufficient ventilation must be available at all times while
the sheep are in the vehicle
- Whenever possible, avoid trips during hot/humid periods.
- When high heat and humidity are forecast, schedule transportation
at night and in the early morning.
- Avoid periods of intense traffic congestion.
- Do not park loaded vehicle in direct sunlight
- When necessary to stop, minimize the duration of the stop to
prevent the buildup of heat inside the vehicle.
- Sheep can be cooled by watering the floor of the vehicle or
by using a fine mist spray. If you have an overheated sheep, gently
run cold water over the back of the head.
Wind Chill Factor
Select the Actual Air Temperature (°C) column and Wind Speed
(km/h) row.
The figure where these intersect represents the Wind Chill Factor.
|
|
Actual Air Temperature
(°C) |
|
10
|
4
|
-1
|
-7
|
-12
|
-18
|
-23
|
| Wind Speed (km/h) |
Wind Chill Factor |
|
8
|
9
|
2
|
-3
|
-8
|
-15
|
-21
|
-26
|
|
16
|
4
|
-2
|
-8
|
-15
|
-22
|
-29
|
-34
|
|
24
|
2
|
-5
|
-12
|
-21
|
-28
|
-34
|
-41
|
|
32
|
0
|
-8
|
-16
|
-23
|
-31
|
-37
|
-45
|
|
40
|
-1
|
-9
|
-18
|
-26
|
-33
|
-39
|
-48
|
|
48
|
-2
|
-11
|
-21
|
-28
|
-36
|
-42
|
-51
|
|
56
|
-3
|
-12
|
-21
|
-29
|
-34
|
-44
|
-54
|
|
64
|
-3
|
-12
|
-22
|
-29
|
-38
|
-47
|
-56
|
|
72
|
-4
|
-13
|
-22
|
-30
|
-39
|
-48
|
-57
|
|
80
|
-4
|
-13
|
-23
|
-31
|
-40
|
-48
|
-58
|
Sources:
- Kansas State University and Livestock Conservation Institute
- Precautions and warning signs of cold stress and wind chill
chart courtesy of Canadian Agri-Food Research Council
- Recommended Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Farm
Animals - Transportation.
- Reprinted with permission from Canadian Agri-Food Research Council
Text
explanation for Figure 1
Figure 1. Maximum
trailer capacity for sheep transported standing based on average
individual animal weight. A 35 kg lamb at 160 kg/m2 has .22 m2
of floor space. Reduce loading density to 85% of maximum in hot
humid weather and for trips in excess of 24 hours to allow room
for sheep to lie down.
Text
explantion for Figure 2
Figure
2. Maximum trailer capacity
for sheep transported standing based on average individual animal
weight. A 70 pound lamb at 32 lbs/ft2 has 2.2 square
feet of floor space. Reduce loading density to 85% of maximum in
hot humid weather and for trips in excess of 24 hours to allow room
for sheep to lie down.
Sources:
- Graphs courtesy of Canadian Agri-Food Research Council
- Recommended Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Farm
Animals - Transportation.
- Reprinted with permission from Canadian Agri-Food Research Council
