Welfare of Animals (Transport) Order (Northern Ireland) 1997

Segregation of animals

14.—(1) Save as provided in sub-paragraphs (2), (4) and (9), the following animals shall not be carried in an undivided vehicle, rail wagon, pen or receptacle with other animals—

(a) a cow accompanied by a calf or calves it is suckling;

(b) a sow accompanied by unweaned piglets;

(c) a mare with a foal at foot;

(d) a bull over 10 months of age;

(e) a breeding boar over 6 months of age;

(f) a stallion;

(g) a jackass;

(h) a ram over 6 months of age.

(2) Bulls may be carried with other bulls, boars with other boars and stallions with other stallions if they have been raised in compatible groups or are accustomed to one another.

(3) Save as provided in sub-paragraph (4), animals shall be segregated according to species.

(4) Animals of any species may be carried in the same undivided vehicle, rail wagon, pen or receptacle as their companion animals if separation would cause either of the animals distress.

(5) An unsecured animal shall not be carried in the same undivided vehicle, rail wagon, pen or receptacle as any animal which is secured other than—

(a) unweaned young transported with their dam or other animal which they are suckling; or

(b) a horse registered under the Orders of the British Horseracing Board and the Rules of Racing of the Jockey Club(1) accompanied by an animal which is its companion.

(6) An animal shall not be carried with another animal if, having regard to the differences in age and size between those animals, injury or unnecessary suffering is likely to be caused to one or both of the animals.

(7) Measures shall be taken to avoid injury or unnecessary suffering to any animal as a result of the carriage in the same vehicle, rail wagon, pen or receptacle of animals which are hostile to each other or are fractious.

(8) Measures shall be taken to avoid any animal being caused injury or unnecessary suffering by an animal which becomes fractious during the journey.

(9) Uncastrated male adult animals shall be segregated from female animals unless they have been raised in compatible groups or are accustomed to one another.

(10) Horned cattle shall be segregated from unhorned cattle unless they are all secured.

(11) Broken horses shall be segregated from unbroken horses.

(12) Segregation of animals in rail wagons may be effected either by means of suitable partitions or, if space permits, by tying them in separate parts of the rail wagon.

(1)

The Orders of the British Horseracing Board and the Rules of Racing of the Jockey Club are available from Weatherbys Group Ltd, Sanders Road, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, NN8 4BX