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By Alice McFarlane

Livestock Transportation Regulations

Changes to livestock transportation regulations delayed

Dec 12, 2019 | 2:01 PM

The Canadian cattle industry is getting a reprieve on enforcement of new transport regulations set to come into effect in the new year.

Federal agriculture minister Marie-Claude Bibeau announced, at a parliamentary reception this week, the grace period for the cattle sector will provide time for education, awareness, addressing infrastructure needs and research.

Saskatchewan Stock Growers President Bill Huber said his group had been pushing for a delay in the regulations.

“Our association has lobbied pretty hard for those changes not to take effect immediately until there’s more consultation with industry groups. This is certainly good news, because the numbers don’t show that there’s enough harm to livestock by keeping trailers out longer,” Huber said. “I think they need to do some more research and study on that. But it’s certainly good news.”

Huber said a year ago it was announced the new regulations would take affect February 20, 2020. He said a transition period is needed.

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“They hadn’t even finished consultations with industry groups so that was a little concerning. We tried to press that and get them to reconsider,” he said. “There’s also a lot of feeder cattle moved from Alberta to central Canada. Those cattle would have to be unloaded and we were concerned if there was enough space to unload them and that they’re comfortable when they are unloaded and they’re not sitting on a trailer somewhere in the yard waiting to be unloaded.”

Huber said a few years will give the industry set up infrastructure for transit points.

He has had personal experience transporting cattle.

“I’ve trucked cattle all over Canada and North America. If you unloaded at 36 hours or 24 hours, there’s as much stress on loading and unloading those cattle as there is leaving them on a trailer. Ninety per cent of the time they won’t eat or drink if they’re loaded and not crowded,” he added. “All transport haulers are very good that way with care and concern of the cattle they’re hauling. We’re just thinking that the numbers didn’t prove that there was that many injured cattle coming off trailers after a 48 hour period.”

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alice.mcfarlane@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @AliceMcF