Controlling animal transports in sub-zero temperatures
These piglets are transported from Denmark to Poland in conditions that are far too cramped.
Pigs from Germany on their way to a Polish slaughterhouse. It's quite possible that this is the first time they've seen the sky.
Many have old injuries to their ears. In industrial animal husbandry, animals sometimes chew on each other's body parts out of boredom.
The pigs' backs almost touch the ceiling. They cannot lift their heads. We observe this problem very frequently in animal transports across Europe.
Our project manager Magda Romańska checks on the condition of the pigs in the transporter.
In sub-zero winter temperatures, we joined forces with the French animal welfare organization Welfarm to inspect animal transports on a major Polish highway. Our observations once again highlight the problematic conditions faced by many animals on Europe's roads.
The aim of our mission was to document the conditions under which domestic birds are transported in low temperatures. The weather forecast predicted sub-zero temperatures, especially at night.
Over three nights and the following mornings, we observed one of the most important sections of the Polish motorway from west to east. During this period, we saw two trucks transporting poultry. Both vehicles were equipped with winter curtains, with only a narrow gap at the top for ventilation. We followed the transports. However, as they did not stop along the way, we had no opportunity to look inside or examine the animals more closely.
Instead, we inspected three trucks carrying pigs and piglets. Two of the vehicles were transporting adult pigs from Germany to Poland for slaughter. In one of the trucks, the animals were being transported in very cramped conditions. In addition, all of the pigs had old injuries to their ears. This is alarming and indicates shortcomings at the farm of origin, which must be investigated. In the second pig transport, we also found that the headroom was insufficient – the animals' backs almost touched the ceiling of the transporter.
Another truck transported piglets from Denmark to Poland. Here, too, the stocking density was too high: the animals did not have enough space to lie down or change position.
We will file a complaint with the authorities responsible for approving these animal transports.