At a petrol station in the Italian region of Emilia Romagna, our team comes across a truck transporting lambs. Due to the high demand for meat during the Italian summer holidays, the transports continue even on extremely hot days. The drivers stop to take the mandatory one-hour break to water the lambs. Inside the truck, there are around 620 lambs about three months old on four floors, which are being transported from Hungary to a slaughterhouse near Pescara in central/southern Italy.
It is only 9.30 a.m. and the thermometer is already 32 degrees. The truck is parked in the blazing sun. Some of the lambs are lying on the ground, breathing heavily. Despite the weather forecasts, which have been predicting extreme temperatures for days, the transport continues. This heat stress increases water loss, mainly through thermal panting, which increases the risk of severe dehydration.
Another problem is the watering. The lambs seem to be very thirsty. Although there are drinking troughs on both sides of the truck, the animals have difficulties using them. Especially in a new environment, the lambs find it difficult to drink from unfamiliar sources. It is important that the drinking troughs work properly, are suitable for the species and that the animals learn to use them before transport. We try to show the lambs how to use the drinkers. Some of them understand, but a lot of water is spilt because the metal nipples of the drinkers are designed for pigs and not for lambs. The water jet is too strong, frightens the animals and is also hot. In addition, many lambs have no access to the drinkers due to the high stocking density. Overstocking is particularly dangerous when it is accompanied by high summer temperatures, inadequate ventilation and a lack of water. This can lead to extreme exhaustion, heat stress and, in the worst case, death. As we follow the truck after the break, the temperature rises to 37 degrees Celsius. The heavy holiday traffic leads to traffic jams and delays, which cause us great concern as the journey time is extended, heat stress increases and there is no ventilation when the vehicle stands still.
To ensure animal welfare and avoid unnecessary suffering, long-distance transport of animals in extreme temperatures should be banned.
Italy: Long-distance transport of lambs during an extreme heatwave
