Can you transport weaner pigs in a family car?

The answer is yes, you can transport weaner pigs in a family car provided you meet the requirements of the EC Regulation on the protection of animals during transport and related operations (1/2005).

I was first given that advice by the State Veterinary Service some time ago and we have transported various weaners in our two Land Rovers, which are definitely our “family cars” as well as being utility vehicles around the croft.

However, doing that has repeatedly seen us threatened with being reported to the authorities, told that we’re in breach of biosecurity laws, told that we’re endangering the welfare of the animals and most recently been told on a forum that:

“Rules and regulations aside, I would be mightily surprised if the ministry vet would sanction such a mode of transport. Why not phone Thainstone and ask for Mr. Imrie, get it in writing perhaps? Can’t see that happening myself.”

So, not only have we been wrong to transport weaner pigs in our family cars, but we’re also lying about getting the advice we’ve had from the SVS.

I’ve also been told:

“I can see that the information from the powers that be can be misconstrued or turned to argue a point.”

Apparently, we’re not relaying the advice for informational reasons, we’re doing it to score a point although I’m at a loss as to what that point is.

And on using a cage in a family car:

“Is this true? - where is the biosecurity? I’ve just checked on DEFRA and on Page 6 Para 1.9 it clearly states that animals should not be transported in the owners car.”

Apparently DEFRA’s advice states to the contrary of our practice.

Given the amount of criticism we’ve had about this, what else to do but contact the SVS at Thainstone (the nearest office to us) again and ask for clarification.

This time, I sent an email and asked for a reply in writing:

I keep pigs and poultry on my croft outside Insch, and have a query about how precisely I can transport them, particularly over short distances.

I have a twin-axle livestock trailer which I use for larger and adult pigs, whether on journeys of less than 50km or for longer journeys up to eight hours for which I have the permit.

But, when carrying poultry or weaners up to 12 weeks old, I’ve been using either my Land Rover Defender 110 County or Land Rover Discovery as it’s easer and safer to carry the animals, as well as allowing constant supervision/oversight while they’re being transported.

Even before the new regulations came into force, I had the vehicles set up as follows:

There’s a heavy duty dog guard (floor to roof) dividing the rear compartment from the front. The carpets are removed from the rear compartment and heavy duty ribbed rubber matting is put down over a plastic liner.

I then place straw over the rubber mat, with the straw and the liner catching urine and manure.

The animals, either chickens or up to two weaners (eight to 12 weeks, no older), are then placed in robust cages (plastic chicken crates for the poultry, reinforced dog cages for the weaners) which are then placed on the straw on the mat. The crates are then lashed down.

The vehicles are disinfected before and after use, there is good ventilation from the side windows, and there is good lighting, both natural and from internal vehicle lights.

Now, I have read the DEFRA (not SEERAD) guidance on farmers moving their own animals for less than 50km and this reads:

1.18 There are some limited exemptions:

• Only Article 3 (General conditions for the transport of animals) and Article 27 (Inspections) apply to the transport by farmers of their own animals in their own vehicles for a distance of less than 50km from their holding, or for seasonal stock movements between pastures (transhumance Art. 2.1);

I then checked the two relevant articles and the technical rules, where the relevant sections appears to be:

1.1. Means of transport, containers and their fittings shall be designed, constructed, maintained and operated so as
to:
(a) avoid injury and suffering and to ensure the safety of the animals;
(b) protect the animals from inclement weather, extreme temperatures and adverse changes in climatic condi-
tions;
(c) be cleaned and disinfected;
(d) prevent the animals escaping or falling out and be able to withstand the stresses of movements;
(e) ensure that air quality and quantity appropriate to the species transported can be maintained;
(f) provide access to the animals to allow them to be inspected and cared for;
(g) present a flooring surface that is anti-slip;
(h) present a flooring surface that minimises the leakage of urine or faeces;
(i) provide a means of lighting sufficient for inspection and care of the animals during transport.

Further,

1.7 When containers loaded with animals are placed one on top of the other on the means of transport, the necessary precautions shall be taken:
(a) to avoid, or in the case of poultry, rabbits and fur animals, to limit urine and faeces falling on the animals
placed underneath;
(b) to ensure stability of the containers;
(c) to ensure that ventilation is not impeded.

However, I’ve now been threatened with being reported to animal welfare officers by people who believe the use of “family cars” is prohibited under the new regulations and that I shouldn’t be using cages/crates as these are not robust or appropriate. And as our cars are also used as “family cars”, then I shouldn’t be using them to transport animals.

Is this correct and, if so, at what point does a farmer’s “own vehicle” become a “family car”?

Also, what exactly is a “container”? Does it mean a large, specially designed and built container as is used for air transport and the like, or are typical plastic poultry crate or heavy duty metal cages also acceptable?

I certainly can’t afford to have completely separate vehicles for family and farm use, so I’d like to know - in writing, please - whether my current short-distance transport arrangements are acceptable or not.

Also, is it correct that livestock trailers have to have a white roof? Mine is entirely painted red, but again some people say this is now illegal and I should be reported.

As a result of that email, I’ve just had a long and detailed telephone conversation with a veterinary officer based at Thainstone, and who has promised to follow up the conversation with a letter.

In essence, her advice was the same as that which I was given previously but with the added comment that “transporting a small number of weaners in the way you’ve described is almost certainly better than transporting them loose in a large trailer where they would be unable to brace themselves and could be thrown around if you braked or cornered hard”.

The officer said the legislation is quite complex and open to interpretation, which means that “people with a lot of different agendas are trying to use it to further those agendas”.

Yes, I can certainly agree with that.

She said several times that the legislation was not intended to stop people conducting their business in the way that they have, but instead to protect the welfare of animals being transported in the conduct of that business.

The officer said that my reading of the technical rules was correct and that animals (not just weaner pigs) could be transported in family cars provided those rules were adhered to.

Before going further, she pointed out that the SVS’s role is to offer guidance while enforcement is the preserve of local government, which may have different interpretations of the regulations from council to council.

However, she said that as the SVS offers guidance to councils, should I be stopped and asked about our transport arrangements then I should explain that I am following guidance issued by the SVS.

With that out of the way, the officer said that her main concerns would be ventilation, disinfection and loading/unloading.

Ventilation requirements could be met by having windows and sunroofs open sufficiently to provide good air flow and prevent the animals suffering both suffocation and heat stress.

Disinfection could be met by having either a removeable tray to catch urine and manure, or by disinfecting the load bed of the vehicle. (Most good quality dog cages have rugged plastic trays for exactly this purpose.)

As the pigs are weaners, they would be lifted in and out of the vehicle which would not be a problem. (If they were expected to jump from the vehicle or walk down a very steep ramp that would be a serious issue.)

The officer added that obviously the number of animals being carried in the way I’d described could also be an issue as it would be one thing to carry two or three weaners in a cage in suitably prepared car and quite another to try to squeeze in a dozen or more.

She said a sturdy metal cage would be most suitable for weaners, while plastic, ventilated crates would be appropriate for poultry.

The officer went on to say it was unlikely that an animal welfare officer would have an issue with our specific set-up provided we did it as described, and added their main targets were the sort of people who “stuffed animals in sacks and cardboard boxes, then threw them in the boot”.

As for DEFRA’s guidelines, the officer said that people should be looking at the SEERAD guidelines as these apply in Scotland and repeated that the intention is not to ban people from carrying animals in family cars as this would be disproportionate and unreasonable.

The intention is to require people to transport animals in a way that protects their welfare and if this can be done over short distances in the “family car” then that is acceptable.

So there you have it. The SVS advice is that you can carry weaner pigs, poultry (and other animals) in your family car provided they’re your own animals, the distance is up to 50km and you met the requirements of the technical rules.

I don’t expect that our critics will back down or apologise, but I will publish the written advice when it arrives and will carry a laminated copy of the letter when transporting weaner pigs and poultry.

Hopefully, it won’t be needed but if people do go ahead and report us as they have threatened, then we will be prepared.

And what makes this so bitterly ironic is that there are people out there who really don’t look after their animals, abuse and neglect their livestock, and don’t give a damn for either the rules or the animals. Are our critics going after them with as much fury as they have pursued us?