Thumbs up for proposed rules on livestock transport

PETALING JAYA: The proposed regulations to ensure livestock and poultry are transported properly and safely have been lauded by various groups, including lorry operators.

Kuala Lumpur-Selangor Lorry Operators Association secretary-­general Alvin Choong said the association is supportive of such a move.

“We are for it because it will ensure healthier livestock and poultry for human consumption,” he said.

“Transporting the animals safely is our priority.

“There will be slight changes to the cost but this is dependent on individual transporters.”

Choong was commenting on the proposed regulations by the Veteri­nary Services Department, which includes minimum space requirements, ventilation and providing feed and water to the animals when needed.

He said giving feed and water to the animals should not be a pro­blem as the length of the journey taken by transporters is normally manageable.

“The most important factor we need to look at is providing proper ventilation to the animals,” Choong said.

Malaysian Association of Food Animal Veterinarians president Datuk Dr Vincent Ng In Hooi said the move will prevent injuries to the animals and also ensure they are not stressed.

Before they are slaughtered, livestock and poultry must be healthy and de-stressed.

“For chickens, they are placed in an area for one to two days first so that they will be calm,” he said.

Dr Ng said that if the animals are stressed when they are slaughtered, it would result in lower meat quality.

The stress hormones will cause the meat to appear redder.

“The meat will also deteriorate faster,” he added.

Animal welfare groups also lauded the new rules with Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) Selangor patron Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye saying it was high time for such a move.

“Proper ventilation is needed to prevent the animals from being suffocated to death,” he said.

He said the tall stacks of cages on lorries transporting poultry left hardly any space for the birds to breathe.

This can cause the animals to die if irresponsible transporters want to maximise space in their vehicles for a larger profit.

“We need to have regular enforcement to ensure such transporters adhere to the rules,” Lee said