How to Ship Live Animals: Full Guide

Key Takeaways

Livestock carriers transport live animals over long distances, featuring multiple levels with pens, ventilation systems, loading ramps, and water tanks to ensure animal welfare

International and national organizations, such as the OIE, FAO, and APHIS, enforce strict guidelines to protect animal welfare and prevent disease spread during shipping. Importing animals to the US requires permits and compliance with federal and state regulations
Key concerns on animal welfare issues include lack of food, water, rest, poor bedding, overcrowding, inadequate ventilation, extreme temperatures, and transporting sick animals

Live animal cargo shipping plays a crucial role in the global food supply, helping move animals from farms to other places like markets or processing plants. This article explores key aspects of livestock shipping, including the design and operation of cattle ships, how you can ship a live animal, relevant regulations, and common challenges.

Atlantic Project Cargo can assist you in shipping cows, pigs, horses, goats, and other live animals. We provide reliable and safe livestock delivery following all regulations and laws.

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What is a Livestock Carrier?

Livestock ships are built specifically to carry live animals on long journeys. They have different designs compared to regular cargo ships to meet the animals’ needs.

The cattle carrier ship usually has several levels with pens or stalls where animals can stand, lie down, and move around comfortably. The pens are made to reduce stress and prevent injuries during transport. This ship is also equipped with ventilation systems to maintain fresh air, proper temperature, and humidity — essential for the animals’ well-being.

In addition, the animal ship features loading ramps, special handling equipment, and water tanks. These make loading, unloading, and transport easier and less stressful for the animals.

Vessels must meet specific standards for how livestock is handled, fed, and given water to avoid dehydration, fatigue, and injuries. There are strict guidelines to ensure that animals are not exposed to extreme weather or crowded conditions that could lead to harm or death.

How to Ship Live Animals

The transport of animals requires careful planning to deliver them safely and efficiently. This includes:

Choosing the best route
Timing for proper loading and unloading
Following all necessary regulations

A cattle ship may use regular trade routes or special paths to avoid bad weather and other dangers at sea.

The loading and unloading processes are closely watched to keep stress levels low for the livestock. During loading, they are often guided onto the ship using ramps, with handlers helping to keep them calm. When unloading, special equipment is used to make animals move from the ship to land as smoothly as possible.

The regulations govern key factors such as stocking density, handling procedures, transport duration, and disease prevention measures. Carriers and owners must be aware of how to ship animals properly.

Who Regulates Live Animal Shipping?

Transporting live animals is closely monitored by international organizations and various national agencies.

Following these regulations is crucial to ensure livestock is treated well and to stop the spread of diseases that could harm the economy and public health.

Guidance for Importing Live Animals to the US

Importing livestock requires compliance with specific regulations and obtaining the necessary permits. The rules depend on the type of animal and where it is coming from. Failure to meet these requirements may result in animals being denied entry or fines being imposed.

The rules for importing livestock depend on the species but may include an import permit, a health certificate, import inspection, quarantine, and sometimes a contingency plan. Certain steps in the process may also involve fees.

When shipping live animals, they must go directly to the US without any stops unless approved by the import permit.

Once an import permit is issued by APHIS, your responsibilities include:

Figuring out the specific rules for the livestock you are importing
Applying for the necessary permits through the APHIS eFile system. It usually takes at least 7 business days for the APHIS to process a permit for live animals
Contacting port services for help with US entry points or federal quarantine rules. You can find the nearest APHIS Port Services office in their trade contacts directory
Checking if other federal agencies regulate the imported species and contacting them if needed. Look at the species-specific import information for details
Checking the rules of the individual U.S. State or Territory to which you are transporting the livestock
Reviewing the Notice Regarding APHIS Live Animal Import and Third-Country Import Transit Permits
Looking up the animal health status of the country you’re importing from for specific diseases, pests, or approved animals

Following these steps will help ensure a smooth import process.

Animal Welfare Issues

Animal welfare is a key concern in live animal transport, concerning both the physical and mental health of the animals during their journey. It is very important to ask yourself a question before the transportation: how do you ship animals? Do you care about their safety and health? Have you chosen a reliable shipper?

Modern cattle ships are built with features like non-slip floors, proper ventilation systems, and access to water. However, the long-term effects of these long journeys on the livestock’s health and behavior are still being studied.

Lack of Food, Water, and Rest

Animals transported for more than 18 hours should be unloaded for at least 24 hours at a designated control post to rest, eat, and drink. However, this rest period is often skipped or is much shorter than required. As a result, the livestock experiences hunger, thirst, and exhaustion.

There have been situations where the control post listed in the journey log was closed or did not have enough space, preventing the necessary rest stop from happening.

Inadequate Water Supply

Sometimes animals cannot get to the drinking devices because they are placed only on one side of the vehicle or ship, especially if the space is overcrowded. Also, the water tanks can be empty, with the devices turned off, dirty, or not working properly. In some cases, these devices may not be suitable for the type of animal, like when the drinking nipples are too high or inaccessible.

Long trips, especially in hot weather and overcrowded conditions, can lead to dehydration, which can be life-threatening.

Bedding Problems

Bedding material is often either not provided or not changed during long trips, leading to dirty and uncomfortable conditions that can cause slipping and injury. Even when bedding is available, it is often not replaced during long journeys, resulting in unsanitary conditions.

A lack of proper bedding makes it uncomfortable for the animals, forcing them to stand on hard surfaces for long periods. The stress of prolonged travel in such conditions can negatively impact their health.

Overcrowding

Overcrowding during transport can lead to significant suffering. It increases the risk of trampling, restricts livestock from lying down, and increases the chances of heat stress and injury.

The harmful effects of overcrowding are compounded by high summer temperatures, inadequate water supply, and poor ventilation. This combination can lead to extreme exhaustion, heat stress, injuries, and, in severe cases, death.

Cattle shippers must adhere to minimum space requirements and maintain a lower stocking density, especially in high temperatures.

Poor Headroom

Adequate space must be provided inside the compartments to allow proper ventilation and natural movement. Failure to provide proper headroom causes considerable discomfort and hinders air circulation. It is crucial to ensure enough vertical space above the animals.

Many transport compartments have very low ceilings, causing livestock to touch them with their heads or backs when standing. This lack of headroom can lead to prolonged periods of discomfort, as animals may be forced to adopt a stooped position for extended durations.

High Temperature and Poor Ventilation

High temperatures can lead to heat exhaustion and severe discomfort. For journeys exceeding 8 hours, ventilation systems must be designed to maintain an internal temperature between 5°C and 30°C (41°F and 86°F) at all times, with a tolerance of +/- 5°C depending on external conditions.

However, the goal should always be to keep the internal temperature at or below 30°C (86°F). Experts note that, in practice, reducing internal temperatures in vehicles or vessels is often impossible when external temperatures exceed 30°C.

Transport of Animals with Health Issues

Animals that are sick, injured, or in the late stages of pregnancy should not be transported. However, this rule is often ignored, leading to serious suffering. Cattle shippers must prevent sick livestock from being moved and ensure they receive immediate care.

If an animal becomes ill or gets hurt during transport, it must be separated from the others and provided with first aid as soon as possible. It should receive veterinary care or be humanely euthanized to prevent unnecessary suffering.

Ethical Issues

Ethical issues are also crucial in livestock shipping. The global livestock trade has faced criticism for its impact on animal welfare, leading to calls for stricter rules and better practices. Many specialists still do not know why transatlantic ships carry livestock across the sea not following laws and regulations.

Many organizations and advocacy groups are working hard to improve transport conditions, pushing for shorter travel times, more space, and transparency in the livestock shipping industry.

Environmental Concerns

The environmental impact of shipping live animals is becoming more important as people pay more attention to sustainability and protecting the environment.

Livestock ships release greenhouse gases and other harmful pollutants, such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. To reduce these emissions, efforts are being made to use cleaner fuels and technologies, along with enforcing stricter emission regulations.

There is also a risk of spreading invasive species and diseases through the transport of livestock. To protect local ecosystems, ports and shipping routes must implement measures to prevent the introduction of pests and diseases.

Conclusion

Shipping live animals by sea is an important component of the global food supply chain. However, this practice comes with significant challenges, including ensuring animal welfare, complying with international regulations, and addressing environmental and ethical concerns.

As the industry evolves, businesses must prioritize animal welfare, embrace sustainable practices, and collaborate to navigate the ethical and logistical complexities of live animal shipping.

Atlantic Project Cargo specializes in the safe and compliant shipping of live animals, ensuring they are transported with the highest standards of care. Our experts know how to ship cattle, pigs, horses, and others. Contact us today to learn how we can support your livestock shipping needs.