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EmailIphone Application    Posted: 15th January 2019
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RSPCA forces lorry to rest 247 calves on long-distance transportation
The journey of live calves was estimated to take 70 hours.

Fresh concerns over welfare of live exports

The RSPCA successfully stopped a lorry transporting 247 calves after it was at risk of exceeding the legal maximum live transport time.

Currently, calves are not allowed to be transported for more than nine hours before a one-hour rest period, and not for longer than 21 hours before a 24-hour rest period.

The lorry in question was stopped at Ramsgate port where the animals were due to be transferred to a delayed ship. The journey was estimated to be a planned 70 hours in length; travelling from Scotland to Spain.

Ruminant welfare specialist at the RSPCA, John Avizienius, commented: “This is a stark reminder that our current laws do not go far enough to protect those animals transported across long distances.

“Currently, transport companies arrange and time the distances down to the minute to take these animals on a journey as long as legally possible, but this week’s journey shows that just one delay can mean a breach of the law.

“Until the long-distance live transport of animals is banned completely, we can never be sure that animals will not continue to suffer on these long, arduous journeys across the continent.

“Currently, sheep, calves, chickens and horses are all exported from the UK, and once they’re off the ship on the continent, we aren’t there to protect them and don’t know how long they’ll be transported.

“Having seen photographs of the calves, we have concerns about their hydration and general health and the question needs to be asked as to whether they were really fit to travel?

“The RSPCA wants to see an end to this cruel practice.”

Image (c) RSPCA



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Cold-water dip to raise funds for Vetlife

News Story 1
 The veterinary mental health charity Vetlife is inviting the veterinary community to join it for a sponsored cold-water dip.

The event will take place at Walpole Bay, Margate, on 17 May during Mental Health Awareness Week. Participants of all abilities can join in the challenge and are advised to bring a towel, a hot drink, a snack, and warm clothes to get changed into afterwards.

Those taking part are being asked to try to raise £100 each to support the work of the charity.

Details about how to take part can be found here. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Bluetongue low vector period ends

In an update to its bluetongue guidance, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced that the seasonal low vector period for the disease has ended.

With winter over, Defra is planning for a possible increase in cases as midges become more active. It has warned that farms along the east coast of England from Norfolk to Kent, and along the south coast from Kent to Devon, are at highest risk from infected midges blown over from northern Europe.

Since the virus was detected in England in November 2023, there have been 126 confirmed cases. The most recent case to be confirmed was on 1 March 2024.

Farmers are asked to continue to frequently monitor their livestock and ensure their animals and land are registered with the Animal and Plant Health Agency.