Australia finds pitfalls of keeping livestock hungry before travel

The Australian Commonwealth Scientific and Research Organization (CSIRO) has discovered negative impacts from the restriction of food and water intake of livestock before they travel.

The study found that cutting feed and water before a journey can increase weight loss and limit the length of time livestock can be transported for.

The study was used to help develop new guidelines for the transport of sheep and cattle by road.

CSIRO scientist Drewe Ferguson said the project's findings are the result of three years of research.

Ferguson said they were interested in whether some period of food and water deprivation before transportation interacted with the ability of the animals to cope with a transport event.

Direct interaction was not found, other than it extended the total period of food and water deprivation that animals experience during transport, he said.