VMD 511: Animal Welfare, Ethics and Jurisprudence (2+0)

TRANSPORT OF EQUINES

• Rule 57: Rules 57 to 63 shall apply to the transport by rail, road, and sea of horses, mules and donkeys (hereinafter in these rules referred to as 'equines').
• Rule 58 
  • A valid certificate by a qualified veterinary surgeon to the effect that the equines are in a fit condition to travel by rail; road or sea and are not suffering from any infectious or contagious disease or diseases shall accompany each consignment.
  • In the absence of such a certificate, the carrier shall refuse to accept the consignment for transport.
  • The certificates shall be in a form specified in Schedule-I.
• Rule 59
  • Each consignment shall bear a label showing in bold red letters the name, address and telephone number (if any) of the consignor and consignee the number and type of equines being transported and quantity of rations and food provided.
  • The consignee shall be informed in advance about the train or vehicle or ship in which the consignment of equines is being sent and its arrival time.
  • The consignment of equines to be transported shall be booked by the next train or vehicle or ship and shall not be detained after the consignment is accepted for booking.
• Rule 60
  • Pregnant and young equines shall not be mixed with other animals.
  • Different species of equines shall be kept separately.
  • Equines shall be loaded after being fed and given water adequately, watering arrangements shall be made en route and sufficient food carried to last during the journey.
  • Veterinary first-aid equipment shall accompany all batches of equines.
  • Adequate ventilation shall be ensured.
  • Suitable ramps and platforms, improvised where not available, shall be used for loading and unloading equines.
• Rule 61: For the transport of equines by rail, the following precautions shall be taken
  • Equines shall be transported by passenger or mixed trains only;
  • Ordinary goods wagon when used for transportation shall carry
  • Not more than eight to ten horses or ten mules or ten donkeys on broad gauge and not more than six horses or eight donkeys on metre-gauge;
  • In extreme hot water weather, shall be sprinkled over the wagons containing equines by the railway authorities to bring down temperature. Ice slabs in specially made containers may be placed inside the wagon, if recommended by a qualified veterinary surgeon;
  • Every wagon shall have two attendants if the equines are more than two in number;
  • Equines shall be loaded parallel to the rails, facing each other;
  • Material for padding, such as paddy straw, shall be placed on the floor to avoid injury if an animal lies down and this shall not be less than 6 cm thick;
  • To provide adequate ventilation, upper door of the side of the wagon shall be kept open and properly fixed and the upper door of the wagon shall have wire gauge closely welded mesh arrangements to prevent burning ciders from the engines entering the wagon and leading to fire breakout;
  • Two breast bars shall be provided on each side of the wagon, one at a height of 50 to 80 cm and the other at 110 cm.
• Rule 62: For the transport of equines by goods vehicles, the following precautions shall be taken, namely:
  • Specially fitted vehicles with a special type of tail-board and padding around the sides shall be used;
  • Ordinary goods vehicles shall be provided with anti-slipping material on the floor and the super structure, if low, should be raised;
  • Bamboo poles of at least 8 cm diameter between each animal and two stout batons at the back shall be provided to prevent the animal from falling;
  • To prevent horses from being frightened or injured their heads
  • Should face left away from the passing traffic;
  • Each vehicle shall not carry more than four to six equines; (f) each vehicle shall be provided with one attendant;
  • The vehicle shall be driven at a speed not more than 35 kilometres per hour.
• Rule 63: For the transport of equines by sea the following precautions shall be taken, namely:
  • Horses may normally be accommodated in single stalls and mules in pens, each pen holding four to five mules;
  • Ample ventilation shall be ensured by keeping portholes and providing permanent air trunks or electric blowers on all decks, and exhaust fans shall be installed to blowout foul air;
  • All standings shall be athwart the ship with heads facing inwards;
  • To avoid distress specially during hot weather, the ship may go under way immediately after embarking and disembarking shall be done as early as possible after anchoring;
  • Colts and fillies shall be kept on the exposed decks;
  • A pharmacy and spare stalls for five per cent of equines shall be available;
  • Passage between two rows of pens shall not be less than 1.5 metres.