It’s no secret that hauling livestock has evolved, with commercial hauling able to move animals thousands of miles. Animal rights groups are increasingly using donations to lobby for restrictive care and handling of livestock. Where that fails they turn to shipping. A clear example is banning horse slaughter in the US and when that didn’t stop now it’s a focus on hauling horses. 

Whatever personal views are on that topic are your own, but these groups do not have the welfare of the animal in mind nearly as much as their own agenda. As the economy gets worse there’s more pressure to make every dollar and mile count and in the end the driver will pay for mistakes.

In Canada it is a federal offence to “cause suffering to any animal during loading, transport or unloading.” In the eyes of some this is the very act of shipping that “causes suffering”. In the US according to the American Veterinary Medical Association “Care must be observed when loading and unloading livestock to avoid injury and stress. Physical abuse of animals must not be tolerated under any circumstances.” Keep in mind for many “physical abuse” includes use of ‘hot shots’ and whips or canes.

Any animals not sound to ship should not be loaded and if pressured to load one a supervisor should be alerted. Document everything including that the animal was loaded under protest. If later it comes back as a situation he said/she said it will surely go against the hauler. Rough handling of animals results in bruising which devalues the meat.

Knowing regulations is important also. Loads of cattle traveling from Canada to the US for slaughter will have the load sealed – preventing legal unloading of animals except by an authorized person at the destination. If you have vehicle issues or are at the time limit they need to be unloaded this is a factor.

A proposed New Hampshire state income tax is under consideration that targets horse owners. A special “equine tax” socks owners with a tax of $25 per horse per year, with a $50 fine in addition to it for anyone who is slow to get on board or outright refuses.

This is not related to health and safety or people and but could be a bonus to the National Animal Identification System that many small farmers and animal owners oppose. It does require each animal to have a number, making it mandatory for horse owners to sign up with just one amendment. The cost of the microchip from some estimates can be $75 or more per horse.

This is an outright tax to license horses as has been done to dogs and cats. Many years ago a small group opposing the animal rights misinformation said that when horses become “companion animals” in the eyes of definition rather than “livestock” it was opening a door that animal owners did not want opened.

This is simply politicians looking at ways to tax more. Rabbits, cattle and other animals can also be taxed if officials find a “reason.”

There’s already talk of the EPA having a per head tax on cattle and hogs for methane production. There are no reports on including sheep, goats and other livestock but all can belch and according to experts that adds to global warming. American Farm Bureau officials report anyone with over 25 head of cattle would pay $175 per animal or beef cattle with more than 50 head at $87.50 per head.

Other people say that isn’t a possibility but it wasn’t that many years ago that horses were unquestionably livestock. For many they still are. That doesn’t stop the state of New Hampshire from forced licensing consideration.

With the state of New York adding increased taxes on many things it would be an idea for them to tax horses also. New York has more horses and with many of those Thoroughbreds there’s the perception that their owners have money. For every Funny Cide there’s a thousand Seek The Stars. (Who was she? My point exactly! Just a Thoroughbred horse.) 

It’s also worth noting that Wisconsin requires sales tax on the purchase of horses unless they are actively used in farming. Wisconsin residents pay 5% state tax and sometimes another ½% to the county on boarding, training, horse sales and equipment.

Kentucky has a 6% sales tax on stud fees and did have the same tax for horses claimed at Kentucky racetracks as well as sold at auction that are under two years old. California taxes horses purchased at the Barrett’s sale that remain in the state. An exemption is made if the horses are leaving California with a licensed shipper.

According to a report in March of 2005, Litchfield county Connecticut pleasure horses over $1,000 in value were to be listed on personal property assets for taxation. Last year New Jersey implemented 7% state taxes on boarding and training. It was noted farms won’t be audited for a few years but anyone not in compliance then will be assessed penalties and back taxes.

Animal owners of all types sometimes may not be aware what the powers that be are doing, but for those in the target view that can be an expensive oversight.

Although it is true the New Hampshire legislation is, at this point, *proposed* rather than enacted, if it takes effect it can pave the way for some other states to do the same. If this is connected with NAIS the “voluntary” program then becomes mandatory.

The transportation of livestock is becoming increasingly littered with not only legal issues but also activists. The animal rights movement has long had activists that have shown the worst of situations and portrayed those as normal.

This is an open target as the largest of corporate agriculture groups look for animal welfare not because it’s a part of normal operation but in pressure from PeTA (People for Ethical Treatment of Animals), a group that thrives on publicity and with the goal of destroying any use of animals.

In an article highlighted on the cattlenetwork.com a load of market hogs headed for a Smithfield Foods processing plant had a small car stop in front of the loaded rig as the car turned left. The driver of the rig drove off to the right to miss the car, struck a power pole and overturned with 190 head on board. Of those 65 were killed or had to be euthanized.

The response team included not only police, a veterinarian and normal emergency crews but a representative of PeTA shooting video at the scene. This was then submitted based on the images on the video for animal cruelty charges.

A study cited in the report showed that 80% of the time in a livestock hauling accident the hauler was the only vehicle involved. In the case of the above situation if the driver hit the car there are legal and financial penalties as well.

Safety measures should always be in place but remember too the inconsiderate driver in front of you could be an activist looking to create an accident. It is a no-win situation for the driver and the company in the case of an accident, but this underscores the need for a plan for dealing with them to not make the situation worse by ending up on youtube or other sites with “publicity” for cruelty to animals.

Be safe out there.

In June 2005, a statement was released by Chuck Adami, a Livestock Market Owner and Beef Industry Producer Leader, in regard to a video released by the Humane Society of the United States.  The video depicted improper treatment of cattle that was shot by animal activists at auction markets.

Adami said in his statement, \"As a livestock market owner, I know that giving animals proper treatment while they are in my care is an obligation, not an option.  It's also good business.  Unfortunately, we continue to see isolated cases of improper treatment in video shot by anti-animal agriculture activists at auction markets.\"

The beef industry has worked aggressively to stop the mistreatment of livestock in transportation situations.  One method that they have done this is to distribute over two thousand cattle care and handling training videos to over 1,250 livestock markets and cattle sales locations.  They also continuously work with veterinarians at these markets to ensure that all cattle are handled properly and humanely.  In addition, the beef industry is working hard to provide hands-on staff training sessions at livestock markets.  These sessions will be held by cattle handling experts. 
Adami stresses that it is important for the persons responsible for mistreatment are held accountable.  It's also important that every single employee that works with cattle is educated in the proper care and treatment of these animals.

The Beef Industry also provides additional resources for livestock transporters to learn more about the humane care of cattle during transport and handling at market.  The Beef Quality Assurance Act program was initiated in 1987 to provide cattle producers with the information they need as well as training tools to ensure animal health and welfare.  These principles influence the management practices of more than 90 percent of cattle.  The \"Producer Code for Cattle Care\" was developed in 1996 and reinforces the industry's strong stance against neglect and animal cruelty.  Additionally, the industry has developed \"Guidelines for Care and Handling of Beef Cattle,\" which has been endorsed by the Academy of Veterinary Consultants and the American Association of Bovine Practitioners.

The Humane Slaughter Act of 1958 dictates strict animal handling and slaughtering procedures.  The beef industry stresses that once the cattle leaves the farm, ranch, feedlot or market, it is the responsibility of the livestock transporter to ensure that animals are humanely treated until they turn the animals over at their next or final destination.  If you would like to learn more about cattle production and cattle welfare, visit BeefFromPasturetoPlate.org. 

According to a report from Kansas Ag Statistics, Kansas continues to be a national leader in several livestock categories.  During the fiscal year of 2007, the state ranked first in animal fat exports with $145.1 million shipped overseas.  The state reported that $419.5 million worth of hides and skins were exported from the state last year, making it the first in the country.

Additionally, Kansas has exported over $596.2 million worth of live animals and meat.  The state ranked third next to Iowa and Nebraska.  However, the live animals and meat exported from Kansas accounted for 16% of the state's total livestock exports.

Overall, the state of Kansas ranks sixth overall as a product of agricultural products according to 2007 fiscal year numbers.  The state's total value of livestock exports is $3.8 billion, which is up 23% from the previous year and is the highest amount the state has ever recorded.  Although, the top ten states in livestock exports saw an increase in their exports during the 2007 year.  Kansas accounts for 4.7% of all U.S. agricultural exports with $81.9 billion in total according to last year's numbers.

These numbers are incredible when you consider the amount of strain the economy has put on livestock transporters in 2007 and 2008.  In 2006, the price of diesel and gas began to climb quickly.  In 2007, gas prices soared and in 2008, they have been consistently high with no sign of dropping.  This has put a large strain on all livestock transporters no matter where they are located.  It also increases the cost of farming in all states, including Kansas. 

The increase in diesel and gas has caused all aspects of livestock and agricultural farming to increase dramatically as livestock owners are working harder to simply feed their animals due to the high cost of feed, which has been a direct effect of gas and oil prices, and makes it difficult for them to afford the rates of livestock transporters.

Livestock transporters are also feeling the pinch on their wallets as the price of diesel continues to remain high and they have to increase their rates and share the expense with their clients.  This strain is not only being felt in the US, but around the world as well and is being felt in countries such as the UK and Australia where diesel prices are high and causing the prices of wheat and grain to remain high as well.