• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • EYES ON ANIMALS – Watching out for their Welfare
  • English
  • Nederlands
  • Deutsch

Eyes on Animals

Watching out for their Welfare

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
DONATE
  • About us
    • What we do
    • Our team
    • Key Figures
    • Our Vision
    • Contact
  • News
    • Latest news
    • Good news
    • Bad news
    • Featured news
    • Subscribe to our newsletter
  • Inspections
    • Farms
    • Markets
    • Transports
    • Slaughterhouses
    • Special projects
    • Other
  • Training
    • Police
    • Truck drivers
    • Poultry-catchers
    • Slaughter personnel
    • Training Material
    • Request a training
  • Industry Tips
    • Animal transport
      • Cattle
      • Pigs
      • Poultry
    • Slaughterhouses
      • Cattle
      • Pigs
      • Poultry
      • Ritual slaughter
    • Educational videos
  • Publications
    • In the media
      • Print
      • Television
      • Radio
      • Videos
    • Newsletters
    • Special reports
    • Training Material
    • Annual reviews
  • Help us
Home » News » German study opts for maximum transport time calves of 8 hours

German study opts for maximum transport time calves of 8 hours

February 14, 2018

Recently a critical article / literature study was published in the leading German Magazine “Amtstierärtztlicher Dienst und Lebensmittelcontrolle” about the long-distance transport of unweaned calves. The conclusion was that the long-distance transport, along with starvation (caused by insufficient drinking- and food facilities inside the trucks) are a serious stressor negatively affecting the immune system and health of the calves. The authors therefore opt to limit transport time of calves to a maximum of 8 hours.

Eyes on Animals regularly conducts inspections of long-distance transports and recognizes many findings in the German study and agrees that transport time of calves should be limited to 8 hours. Please see some videos of our inspections of trucks carrying unweaned calves below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIf2FQltZbE&t=16s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fe3TcFUes-Y
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gZ0LS8FsPlo&t=1s

In the Netherlands EonA’s inspections resulted in stricter requirements for drinking facilities in the trucks. Dutch trucks that transport unweaned calves over long-distances must now be equipped with rubber teats instead of just metal nipples so calves can drink more easily. Nevertheless also with rubber teats it is not possible to give calves preheated milk which is what animals at this age really do need. The fact that the unweaned calves can only receive water or electrolytes via the truck drinking facility, results in young calves becoming dehydrated and weak and lethargic at the end of long-distance journeys. Further, calves at this age should be given liquid feed manually and on an individual basis to be sure that they consume enough nutrients. Within a truck this isn’t possible. Some calves will drink too much, while others will drink nothing. We are happy that the leading magazine for veterinarians in Germany pays attention to this subject and the authors of the article, like Eyes on Animals, conclude that transport time for calves should be limited.

The full article can be read HERE.

  • share 
  • share 
  • share 
  • save 
  • email 

Filed Under: Good news, News Tagged With: animal transport, animal welfare regulation, calves, live animal transports

Primary Sidebar

Search

Featured

As small slaughterhouses disappear, transport distances increase

Eyes on Animals is observing a troubling trend: transport distances for culled cows and sows are … [Read More...] about As small slaughterhouses disappear, transport distances increase

Featured

Dutch transport company Van Os implicated in serious transport fraud involving Irish calves

May 8, 2025

Once again, serious violations have been uncovered in the transport of calves from Ireland. Last … [Read More...] about Dutch transport company Van Os implicated in serious transport fraud involving Irish calves

Our most recent newsletter

Dear friends,

It’s not every day that an animal-welfare organization takes on the challenge of redesigning a large pig slaughterhouse and their animal handling techniques, but that’s exactly what we did in 2020.

Read more…

Subscribe to our newsletter

Subscribe

* indicates required

Eyes on Animals op Twitter

eyes_on_animals Eyes on Animals @eyes_on_animals ·
17 Jul

🐖🤔 Biggetjes die in Nederland niet geschikt bevonden worden om af te mesten, gaan levend op transport naar verre landen om daar aan het spit geregen te worden…
#veetransport #biggen

Reply on Twitter 1945778764132081904 Retweet on Twitter 1945778764132081904 8 Like on Twitter 1945778764132081904 15 Twitter 1945778764132081904
eyes_on_animals Eyes on Animals @eyes_on_animals ·
16 Jul

🐄🔥 Stalbrand in Vianen onder controle, koeien onderzocht door veearts - RTV Utrecht #stalbrand #koeien

Reply on Twitter 1945491228298002620 Retweet on Twitter 1945491228298002620 2 Like on Twitter 1945491228298002620 3 Twitter 1945491228298002620
eyes_on_animals Eyes on Animals @eyes_on_animals ·
15 Jul

🚛 On the road together with our colleagues of ⁦@AWF_Germany⁩ #livestocktransport

Reply on Twitter 1945213293808783464 Retweet on Twitter 1945213293808783464 Like on Twitter 1945213293808783464 3 Twitter 1945213293808783464
Load More...

ANBI

Footer

Donate with Paypal

Paypal Eyes on Animals
One-time donation:
Monthly donation:

Reading Material

  • In the Media
  • Newsletters
  • Special EonA reports
  • Legislative texts
  • ANBI

Our Amsterdam Office

Amsterdam House Hotel
Eyes on Animals main office is in downtown Amsterdam, at the Amsterdam House Hotel. The generous and warm-hearted hotel owner donated to Eyes on Animals, free of charge, a beautiful room where our inspectors can work, hold meetings and store their material.

Copyright © 2025 · Eyes on Animals | Website by Webkompaan