Reduced space allowance for adult sheep in lairage for 24 hours limits lying behaviour but not drinking behaviour

Abstract

The key lairage requirements for livestock include sufficient space to lie down, sufficient time to allow recovery from travel, and access to water to allow recovery from dehydration. Current recommendations for lairage of adult sheep include that holding pens should provide no less space than 0.6 m 2 per sheep. Particularly during periods when large numbers of sheep are culled, space allowances may be limited to 0.3 m2 or less, which may reduce the ability of individual sheep to lie down or access water. Adult Merino-cross sheep were allocated to one of four space allowance treatments during unloading from commercial transport vehicles at a commercial abattoir after an average transport tim..