UK VETS are calling for joined-up Government thinking on animal welfare during live transport – and stressed that high welfare standards at home are undermined if UK livestock can still be exported to an uncertain fate overseas.

Welcoming the 'increasing political appetite to make improvements to live animal transport', the British Veterinary Association has urged the government to put welfare at the heart of any decision-making with regards to moving livestock inside and out of the UK.

In its updated position, the BVA emphasises its support of current UK legislation, but would like to see 'improved implementation' of those current laws. It also recommends that any proposals to improve welfare during transport should embrace all forms of transport and include welfare issues 'before, during and after' movement.

Vets have long argued that animals are best slaughtered as close to their point of production as possible, and the BVA said that it would support the exploration of any ideas or opportunities which would assist this, while recognising that transportation of live animals can be unavoidable in some situations – for example, journeys between the Scottish Islands and Highlands.

But looking at journeys further afield, the association stressed that no animal should be exported to a destination with unknown welfare standards, or to one using systems currently banned in the UK or to a country where it would be slaughtered without stunning.

BVA president Simon Doherty said: “Any kind of movement has the potential to impact on an animal’s health and welfare. Ideally, we’d like to see livestock slaughtered close to the point of production, as long as all legislative health and welfare standards can be maintained. However, we recognise the high standards of welfare in the UK and support better implementation of current legislation.

“We have taken care to reiterate that any improvements made to live animal transport should consider welfare issues before, during and after movement so that a more complete approach is taken on this issue.

“We recognise that journey length is not the only influencer of welfare conditions for animals, and transport needs to be looked at as a whole rather than focusing on single factors," he said. "The most important thing for Government to do is to consider the evidence base when it weighs up options for making improvements.”