Tailored transport rules in times of extreme heat

In recent years, poultry farmers in Europe have been confronted with a number of heat waves. Taking climate trends in to account, it is very likely that this will repeat itself in the future. That is why in the Netherlands and in Belgium there was a need to agree on some effective guidelines with the authorities and within the poultry sector regarding the transport of poultry on days with extreme heat. The aim is to guarantee the welfare of poultry and to minimise losses. During very hot days, specific protocols come into effect, special measures are taken as animal welfare receives extra attention from both the industry and the national food and product safety authorities.

EU law on transport was not sufficient

A European law, EC Regulation 1/2005, addresses the regulations regarding the transport of livestock. “This is a framework law applicable to all European member states on the transport of livestock in times of extreme heat,” explains Ann Truyen, of the Belgian Association of Industrial Poultry Slaughterhouses. “However, this law is quite generic. That is why we decided to implement this protocol specifically designed for broilers on their way to the slaughterhouse. In this protocol, the legal provisions are described more practically. The protocol that we use in Belgium is a workable instrument that applies to different roles within the logistic poultry chain. It has been approved by the minister in Flanders, and is used on a national scale. It was important to organise this properly because of the limited flexibility in the broiler chain: leaving ready-to-slaughter animals on farm longer than anticipated has immediate and serious consequences for animal welfare at poultry farms.”

For the loading, transport and unloading of livestock and poultry to slaughterhouses at high temperatures, a heat plan is put into effect. The Netherlands uses 3 temperature gradations. The Belgian plan works with colour codes, which corresponds to the colour codes of the Belgian meteorological institute. Each colour provides a range of measures the operators must comply with when the welfare of the animals is endangered by extreme weather conditions. The measures concern, among other things, the number of animals transported per truck, access to cooling facilities and the planning and times at which animals are transported.

Loading at peak temperatures is prohibited, driving and delivery times are also affected on hot days. Photo: Bert Jansen

Dutch poultry sector not signed up to national heat protocol

The political and social pressure to properly organise the transport of poultry during heat is also significant in the Netherlands. The Netherlands has a national heat protocol for livestock which the poultry sector fully cooperates with, but at the same time has refused to sign it so far.

Night slaughtering

According to chairman Gert Jan Oplaat, Association of the Dutch Poultry Processing Industry Nepluvi, the sector has not signed the heat protocol, because the national food and consumer product safety authority, NVWA, does not guarantee the possibility of slaughtering at night. “The NVWA only says it will do its best, but gives no guarantees. We want to slaughter at night during periods of extreme heat, because it is the most effective measure for securing the welfare of the chickens during transport.”

Poultry sector does everything to guarantee animals’ welfare

In the heat protocol, livestock transporters have made agreements about driving and delivery times during days of extreme temperatures. “Despite the fact that we have not signed the heat protocol, slaughterhouses and transporters do everything they can to guarantee the welfare of the animals during heat periods. For example, we work in the early hours of the morning as much as possible and slaughterhouses set up fans for the waiting chickens or provide shelter,” explains Oplaat.

Stakeholders in the poultry sector tailored their own approach, but that doesn’t exclude them from government inspections. Photo: ANP

Societal perceptions

The emotions in Dutch politics and the social attention for the matter are considerable. “Sometimes the nuance is lacking, and the problem is approached from a vegan perspective. While the sector has the same interest at heart. We don’t want animals to die during transport. This only costs money and generates negative attention. Moreover, we want to be an organisation that properly regulates well-being during transportation.”

In the Netherlands, society pays a lot of attention to animal transport on hot days. “Meanwhile, the pressure has eased somewhat with the advent of the heat protocol. We have made good agreements with our slaughterhouses and the effect is positive. Despite some very hot days, the number of Dead On Arrivals (DOAs) had not increased in the summer,” says Oplaat.

Heat protocol gets positive reviews

Belgian colleague Ann Truyen is also cautiously positive about the effect of the heat protocol. “Although we don’t want to feel too much victory yet, because the protocol has only been applied for one summer, the inspection services have determined that the small spike in dead on arrivals that we normally see did not occur. It is a good thing that the protocol had the desired effect last summer.”

Not all EU states are under societal pressure on welfare

Matters such as loading density are strictly regulated in European law. “This is strictly enforced in our countries. This will apply to all member states, yet there are member states where the theme of animal welfare is less relevant or where there is less pressure from society. To what extent member states draw up, comply with and enforce protocols still depends on the sensitivity and how policy responds to this,” Truyen suspects.

Extra welfare measures mean extra costs

Additional measures and their enforcement are associated with higher costs, lower density results in a declined yield. This is worth it. “The measures also result in fewer DOAs. Money is not the most important thing,” emphasises Oplaat. “We want to arrange it properly and neatly and want to devote sufficient attention to welfare issues. Incidents cannot be ruled out, but with our measures and protocols we function at the highest possible level.”