Dairy calf transportation in the United States: challenges and strategies to improve animal welfare

Authors: CRAMER, MARY - Colorado State University; Pempek, Jessica; ROMÁN-MUÑIZ, IVETTE - Colorado State University; EDWARDS-CALLAWAY, LILY - Colorado State University

Submitted to: Journal of Dairy Science Communications
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/12/2023
Publication Date: 11/17/2023
Citation: Cramer, M.C., Pempek, J.A., Román-Muñiz, I.N., Edwards-Callaway, L.N. 2023. Dairy calf transportation in the United States: challenges and strategies to improve animal welfare. Journal of Dairy Science Communications. https://doi.org/10.3168/jdsc.2023-0452.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3168/jdsc.2023-0452

Interpretive Summary: Calves are transported at < 1 week of age in the U.S. and, sometimes, < 24 hours of age. This makes them especially vulnerable to the stressors associated with transport, which include milk and water deprivation, commingling, improper handling, and weather extremes. In addition, recent data from both the U.S. and Canada indicates that sick or injured calves are being transported. These factors can lead to welfare implications, such as fear, pain, disease, injury, discomfort, and hunger and thirst. There is opportunity to improve the welfare of transported calves and strategies include waiting until calves are older to transport; focusing on good colostrum management for all calves, navel disinfection, and water and milk access; assess calf condition to ensure they are fit for transport; handle calves with care; and reduce the transportation duration and events.

Technical Abstract: An important animal welfare concern across the US dairy industry is the transportation of preweaned calves from the source dairy to a calf-raising facility (e.g., calf ranches, heifer raising facilities, veal operations), auction, livestock market, or directly to slaughter. The increased adoption of breeding dairy cows with beef semen has resulted in more surplus calves being transported within the first week of life, garnering additional attention to calf transportation practices. Transportation stressors include limited (if any) access to food and water, commingling, environmental temperature changes, and a variety of handling techniques. Neonates are particularly vulnerable to transportation stressors due to their decreased ability to thermoregulate, underdeveloped immune system, and immature physiologic stress responses. Given that calves in the US are often transported at an average age of 3 d, and in many cases, less than 24 h of age, there is a critical need to address these welfare concerns. In addition to age, fitness for transport is a key welfare consideration; recent data from the US demonstrates that some source dairies transport compromised calves (i.e., dehydration, diarrhea, navel inflammation, etc.), leading to significant welfare challenges during transportation. Calves arriving at US veal facilities have been reported to be dehydrated, lethargic, hypoglycemic; and/or have poor body condition, navel inflammation, and diarrhea. It is also possible that calves become compromised in transit to their destination. Thus, there is ample opportunity to target decision-making and producer-focused education not only at the source dairy, but at each stage of transportation to address critical welfare concerns. The objectives are to summarize relevant research and key welfare issues relative to calf transportation and identify strategies to mitigate welfare challenges.