CHAPTER 10. SOUTH AMERICA

Abstract

This chapter gives an overview of the long-distance transport of animals for slaughter in South America, with special regard to inherent sociocultural, livestock production, climatic and geographic conditions, as well as trade, stakeholders, legal framework, research and training in the field. Information for Argentina, Brazil, Bolivia, Ecuador, Chile, Colombia, Paraguay, Perú, Uruguay and Venezuela is presented. Within South America cattle and sheep production are characterized mainly by grazing, usually in extensive systems; pig and poultry production are significant intensive activities in some countries. In this region there are some of the world's most important beef production and exportation countries (Brazil, Argentina); there are also some countries where, even with a small cattle population, meat exports are an important part of the economy (Uruguay) or have access to high-meat-price markets because of good animal health conditions (Chile). Meat exportation provides a good opportunity to make improvements in quality assurance schemes and good livestock practices that consider animal welfare as a component in the production chain on farm, during transport and at slaughter. Livestock producers as well as veterinary services in each country are aware that international commercial agreements not only require them to fulfil sanitary and animal health regulations but also other requirements of consumers, among them ethical considerations for product positioning. The evidence presented here shows that exports of live animals occur mainly for breeding and only very occasionally for slaughter. The transport of live animals for slaughter within each country occurs mostly for relatively short distances (300-500 km), but it also occurs over long distances (1000-1500 km) or for long durations. There is a great variation in the conditions of the transport of farm animals within South American countries: if commonly transport duration is between 1 and 12 h, it can occasionally reach up to 60 h. This is due mainly to a combination of bad roads, bad weather conditions and the existence of several intermediate dealers. In some cases the animals transported are facing very bad conditions, causing strong risk of welfare deterioration and in others, the risk is minor and the welfare of transported animals is not under strong pressure. Bad practices during loading, transport and unloading of animals are common, as well as overstocking the trucks. There is a large difference between countries from the southern part of the region (Brazil, Uruguay, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile), and those from the central and northern part of the region, the latter being less developed, with more sociocultural problems which tend to take priority over animal welfare issues. Most South American countries are members of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE), and delegates exist in each country, who have already been given the responsibility for animal welfare issues and to bring national regulations into line with OIE recommendations. Increasing regional research and training of human resources at all levels of the meat chain is seen as an important tool to achieve this goal.