Episode 86: Rest Stops During Long-Haul Transport: Helpful or Harmful?

Transport regulations have renewed attention on the role of rest stops for weaned calves. While the idea is that breaks during long-haul transport might reduce stress and improve animal welfare, research from 2018–2020 tells a different story. Across all trials, rest stops showed no consistent benefits—and calves that rested actually carried more BRD-related bacteria than those hauled straight through. Tune in to learn why rest stops may pose more risk than reward.

 

Relevant Links: 

Do Transport Rest Stops Put Calf Health at Risk? (article)

Improving Calf Transportation (article)

Transport (webpage)

Preconditioning & Backgrounding Calculator (interactive tool)