Construction of livestock transport vehicles
(for Scotland)
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The Welfare of Animals (Transport) (Scotland) Regulations 2006 implement Council Regulation (EC) No. 1/2005, in Scotland and apply to persons who transport farm livestock (cattle, sheep, pigs, goats and horses) in connection with an economic activity. The principle requirements include that vehicles must, amongst other things, be designed, constructed, maintained and operated to avoid injury and suffering and to provide animals with protection from inclement weather. Partitions shall be used where necessary to provide support, or to prevent animals being thrown about. Vehicles must carry suitable equipment for loading and unloading and appropriate lighting must be provided.
Livestock must be segregated in a vehicle to prevent injury or unnecessary suffering such as separating animals of different species, sexually mature males from females and animals with horns from animals without horns. Electric goads can be used on the hindquarters of cattle over the age of six months, or on adult pigs which are refusing to move forward, where there is space to do so but their use must be avoided if at all possible.
