Report Cruelty Donate

Our role

The state and territory member Societies provide services to animals in need through their shelters and inspectorates. In the national office, RSPCA Australia works to influence animal welfare policy, practice and legislation across the country
Go to Our role

Animal welfare science

Caring for animals

Farm animal welfare

Public education

Advocacy

Enforcing the law

Key issues

The RSPCA advocates for the welfare of animals across a number of industries, issues and platforms. Help from our supporters is important to progress change. Working together is key.
Go to Key issues

Farm animals

Sport, entertainment & work animals

take action live sheep export alternate
Priority issue
Australia is closer than it has ever…
Live sheep export

News

Here you'll find the latest news relating to the RSPCA's vital work, press releases on national events, education on animal welfare issues, animal welfare science updates and our very own podcast covering a range of current topics.
Go to News

Blog

Media centre

Podcast

featured media release sheep v2
Media release: No further delays on live sheep export phase out
Read the media release

Support us

Whether you're an individual or a business, there are multiple ways you can support the RSPCA
Go to Support us

For individuals

For businesses

National events

An animal in the RSPCA care being cared for by an RSPCA vet
Donate now to support your local RSPCA and make a difference to animal welfare across Australia
Donate

Learn

The RSPCA aims to make evidence-based research accessible to the community, so that they can have confidence in the choices made when it comes to animal welfare.
Go to Learn

Knowledgebase Offsite

Animal Welfare Seminar

Animal Welfare Science Update

Education resources

Cage free and proud

Responsible sourcing

Key information

Domesticated animals

Non-domesticated animals

Aquatic animals

AWS24 Banner 1200x630
RSPCA Animal Welfare Seminar 2024
Through their eyes: Strengthening our…
Learn more

About

The RSPCA is an independent, community-based charity providing animal care and protection services across the country.
Go to About

Annual reports

Annual statistics

Board & governance

Scholarships

Join our team

Our history

Contact

about us national statistics
Read our National Statistics
Compiled on a national basis by RSPCA…
Annual statistics

Adopt

By choosing adoption, you’ll not only have the chance to make a friend for life, but you’ll be giving an animal a second chance and helping support the RSPCA.
Go to Adopt

Adopting a dog or puppy

Adopting a cat or kitten

Adopting other animals

Responsible pet ownership

adopt a pet logo
Visit the Adopt A Pet website
Make a difference to a pet’s life today.
Search Adoptapet
Contact Us
RSPCA Approved Farming
Report Cruelty Donate
Report Cruelty Donate
  1. Home
  2. Learn
  3. Animal Welfare Seminar
  4. RSPCA Animal Welfare Seminar 2008

Each year, around one billion animals (including over 15 million farmed fish) are transported within Australia either for slaughter, for export or further finishing. Transport is generally accepted to be stressful to animals. During transport, animals are often deprived of food and water, are subject to temperature extremes, can be physically injured, are mixed with unfamiliar animals, are in close confinement, and are confronted with novel situations.

The transport of animals in Australia is a complex issue: this is a vast country with a variety of geographical and climatic regions and a broad and diverse animal production industry ranging from cattle and sheep to farmed fish. There is also considerable variation in the distances travelled between farms and processing or other destinations. An assessment of the effects of these factors on welfare is impeded by a lack of reported data on individual land transport journeys. This also makes it difficult to monitor compliance with regulations and codes of practice, amend standards and inform consumers about actual practices.

The two main transport scenarios in Australia are the land transport of animals by road and the export of livestock by sea.

Current thinking dictates that animal welfare standards should be science based, but this assumes that there is sufficient research in a given area to provide us with useful answers. The seminar aimed to identify gaps in our knowledge of the impact of transport, and provide some direction for future research. It also looked at how Government, industry and retailers/consumers can influence the direction of animal welfare improvements, including nationally consistent standards.

Speakers at the Seminar examined recent research on the physiological impact of transport on animals, and the factors that influence our understanding of what is an ‘appropriate' transport process. Case studies highlighted specific welfare aspects of land and sea transport of livestock, as well as transport of farmed fish in the aquaculture sector. The importance of developing nationally consistent standards for animal welfare and the incorporation of animal welfare in industry quality assurance schemes was also discussed. Finally, the Seminar touched on the influence of the consumer and the retail sector on welfare developments in animal transport.

Proudly Supported By
Download program
subscribe box

Stay informed on big issues and how you can help improve animal welfare across Australia.

Subscribe today and we’ll keep you updated on all the latest campaigns, events and news.

We care about your data in our privacy policy.