FarmFacts: LONG DISTANCE ANIMAL TRANSPORT FROM IRELAND

What does Compassion in World Farming - Ireland want?

Compassion in World Farming is campaigning for an end to long journeys for farm animals destined for slaughter or further fattening.

We want all Irish farm animals to be slaughtered as near as possible to the farm of rearing, with transport in the form of meat. Long journeys are stressful and tiring for animals, and in addition provide a conduit for the spread of disease.

EU Animal Transport legislation

Council Regulation (EC) No. 1/2005 on the protection of animals during transport lays down standards for animal transport. It includes requirements for animals to be unloaded and rested at set intervals during long journeys, but it does not put any limit on the overall length of journeys that animals can be taken on.

Compassion in World Farming - Ireland supports an on-going campaign and petition to limit journeys for animals going to slaughter to 8 hours maximum.

How many animals are exported from the Republic of Ireland?

Bord Bia (the Irish Food Board) figures show that a total of 232,070 cattle and calves for further fattening or slaughter were exported from the Republic of Ireland to Continental EU countries in 2010. Of these, 145,986 were calves.

The majority of animals exported from the Republic of Ireland to the Continent are for further fattening, many of them young calves. A small number of cattle are exported for slaughter on the Continent.

In the past, thousands of Irish cattle were shipped to destinations in North Africa and the Middle East, and there are continued efforts to re-start this trade. At present, a small number of cattle are taken overland, via the Continent, from the Republic of Ireland to Morocco.

Destinations in the EU for Irish cattle and calves

Irish 'weanlings' (weaned young adults) are transported to Italy and, to a lesser extent, to Spain for further fattening, often on feedlots.

Large numbers of unweaned calves, just a few weeks old, are transported from Ireland to the Netherlands, mostly for rearing as veal, with smaller numbers exported to Belgium. Irish calves are also transported to Spain and Italy.

Veal production on the Continent

Although veal crates are now prohibited in the EU, Dutch veal farms are often indoor, intensive units like the one shown (left).

Compassion in World Farming - Ireland wants to see male dairy calves reared for beef in Ireland instead of transported live on long journeys to Continental Europe.

For more information about veal production, read our Veal FarmFacts.

Journeys to the Continent

Irish animals travel to the Continent on roll-on, roll-off ferries direct from Ireland to France (a sea-journey of around 18.5 hours).

Some Irish animals are taken to the Continent via Britain on the 'land-bridge' route. They go by ferry from Ireland to Britain, by road down Britain, and then on another ferry from England to the Continent. From there they continue onward by road to their destinations in Continental Europe.

Welfare problems

Journeys from the Republic of Ireland to the Continent are very lengthy. Animals can find travelling for long periods in livestock lorries stressful and tiring. The weather on the Continent may be very hot, making it uncomforable for the animals.

Calves transported to the Netherlands for veal production (see photo) are particularly poor travellers because they are only a few weeks old when they make this long journey. Scientific studies have shown that the stress of travel for these young calves makes them more prone to becoming ill, particularly in the weeks following transport.

Rest breaks ignored

Reports by the European Commission's Food and Veterinary Office, trails by animal welfare organisations, and media reports show that sometimes animals are not given the rest breaks that the law requires: either they are not given any rest period at all or the rest is much shorter than it should be. There is a long history of this problem with regard to drivers carrying cattle and, in particular, calves from the Republic of Ireland to Continental Europe.

What do veterinarians think about long distance transport of animals?

The Federation of Veterinarians of Europe says: "... the long distance transportation of animals for slaughter should be replaced, as much as possible, by a carcass-only trade."

Photo: Irish cattle being loaded onto a livestock ship before shipments to North Africa/Middle East stopped.

Live cattle exports to North Africa and the Middle East

Compassion in World Farming - Ireland is totally opposed to exports of Irish cattle to non-EU countries. The journeys are extremely long, and the welfare of these animals (during onward transport after arrival at the non-EU country; prior to slaughter; and at slaughter) cannot be properly protected after the animals are delivered to non-EU countries.

In December 2005, Compassion in World Farming's campaign to end the EU subsidies ('refunds') that supported live cattle shipments from the EU to countries outside the EU for slaughter, ended in success. The subsidies on live cattle exports to non-EU countries for slaughter ceased and, as a result, virtually all live cattle shipments from the Republic of Ireland to non-EU destinations stopped.

Compassion in World Farming - Ireland is very concerned about recent media reports (Summer, 2011) saying that live cattle exports from Ireland to Egypt could resume, since Egypt is set to import Irish beef again. There have been similar media reports in the past but, so far, live cattle exports from Ireland to non-EU destinations have not actually started, other than a small number of cattle taken overland via the Continent to Morocco. However, we cannot be complacent because we know that there are serious animal welfare problems in Egypt.
Read more about the animal welfare problems that have been filmed by Animals Australia, which investigated the treatment of Australian animals in Egypt.
Read an article about this trade in Compassion in World Farming - Ireland's September/October 2011 Irish Newsletter.

In the past, many thousands of cattle were shipped from the Republic of Ireland to non-EU destinations, including the Lebanon, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Libya. These animals were shipped out from Ireland on walk-on, walk-off livestock ships (like the one in the photo) on very long sea-crossings lasting about 7 to 10 days. In the past, storms at sea have resulted in animals being injured or killed.

Investigations over the years by animal welfare organisations (including Compassion in World Farming) showed that animal welfare standards in non-EU countries could be very poor. EU animal welfare protection measures cannot, in general, be applied in non-EU countries.

For example, in an investigation by Compassion in World Farming back in 1998, very inhumane treatment of cattle from Germany and Ireland was filmed in slaughterhouses in the Lebanon, including this Irish bull awaiting slaughter with one leg tied high to the side of a truck, struggling desperately (see photo, right).

What now?

Compassion in World Farming believes that animals for slaughter, either immediate or after a period of further fattening, should not be subjected to the stress of long distance transport. Animals should be slaughtered near to the place of rearing, with exports in the form of meat. In this way, the animals' welfare can best be protected.

Whilst live animal exports continue, Compassion in World Farming - Ireland will do everything it can to ensure that all relevent laws are very strictly enforced with regard to Irish animals.

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