Farmed Animals

Animal Welfare in Cold Chain and Refrigeration

Temperature management in animal transport, storage, and processing affects animal welfare and product quality in complex interconnected ways.

Key Facts

Heat stress during transport significantly increases mortality in poultry and pigs
Cold stress affects cattle and sheep transported in winter without adequate shelter
Temperature monitoring during transport is a key welfare indicator in progressive regulations
Pre-slaughter lairage temperature affects both animal welfare and meat quality

Welfare Considerations

Temperature extremes during transport and holding cause acute stress, metabolic disease, and mortality in farm animals. Animals in vehicles without adequate ventilation during summer face heat stroke. Animals transported in uninsulated vehicles in winter face hypothermia stress. Welfare-positive transport management involves temperature monitoring and climate-controlled vehicles calibrated to species needs.

What You Can Do

Support regulations requiring temperature monitoring in animal transport vehicles
Advocate for species-appropriate temperature standards in transport regulations
Engage with meat producers about thermal welfare management in their supply chains
Report observations of animals in obvious thermal distress during transport