During 2019, 424 commercial animal transports and some 700 000 animals were inspected. 97% of the animals inspected were poultry. Most of the checks were carried out by official veterinarians during unloading at abattoirs. Regional and municipal veterinarians inspected transports on the road and at the point of departure and other specified places.
More neglect than previously
The highest number of checks were carried out on bovine, poultry and pig transports. 28 transports lasting more than eight hours were inspected. In 51 animal transport operations, i.e. around 12 % of the transport operations inspected, breaches of animal transport regulations were found. Compared with the previous year, the proportion of breaches increased considerably after several years (6 % in 2018). Overall, a total of 106 separate breaches were found, as in some of the transports several breaches were found at the same time.
The breaches were largely the same as in previous years. Most of the individual deficiencies were related to the requirements for transport documentation, the driver’s certificate of competence and animal transport authorisation documents (55 breaches, which is half of all the breaches found). The second most common deficiencies were related to the condition and safety of the vehicle and adherence to the additional requirements for long-distance transports (35 examples). The third most common breaches (8 examples) were found in transport practices and compliance with space requirements. There was no equipment for killing animals available in four transports.
Differences between animal species are clear
128 poultry transports were inspected. In one case, document deficiencies were found, and another had deficiencies in ventilation. The non-compliance rate in poultry transport was 1.6 %.
123 cattle transports were inspected, and in 12 % deficiencies were found. In eight transports, problems related to drinking equipment for the animals were identified, and in four transports there were shortcomings in the temperature monitoring system. Other deficiencies were found in individual transports.
118 pig transports were inspected, of which five were found to have deficiencies. In one case there were deficiencies in the drinking equipment and in other cases the documents were not up to date.
23 reindeer transports were inspected, and non-compliances were found in 61 % of cases. Approximately half of the findings directly affected animal welfare, such as loose objects in the transport area or deficiencies in structures.
A total of 18 horse transports were inspected, of which over 50 % lacked a permit to transport animals, a certificate of competence or transport documents.
18 sheep transports were inspected, four of which had non-compliances regarding the documents.