DRAFT UGANDA STANDARD  
  DUS 733 
Second  Edition  
2017 -mm-dd 
 
 
 Reference number  
DUS 733: 2017 
© UNBS 2017   
  
Handling and transportation of slaughter animals —
Requirements   
 DUS 733: 2017  
ii © UNBS 2017  – All rights reserved  
 Compliance with this standard does not, of itself confer immunity from legal obligations  
A Uganda Standard does not purport to include all necessary provisions of a contract. Users are 
responsible for its correct application  
© UNBS 2017   
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilised in any 
form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without  prior written 
permission from UNBS.  
Requests for permission to reproduce this document should be addressed to  
The Executive Director  
Uganda National Bureau of Standards  
P.O. Box 6329  
Kampala  
Uganda  
Tel: +256 41 4 333 2 50/1/2/3  
Fax: +256 41 4 286 123  
E-mail:  info@unbs.go.ug  
Web: www.unbs.go.ug  DUS 733:2017  
© UNBS 2017  – All rights reserved  iii 
 Contents  Page 
Foreword  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................  iv 
Introduction  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ .........................  v 
1 Scope  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ......................  1 
2 Normative references  ................................ ................................ ................................ ............................  1 
3 Terms and definitions  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........................  1 
4 Transportation of slaughter animals  ................................ ................................ ................................ ... 2 
4.1 General req uirements  ................................ ................................ ................................ ...........................  2 
4.2 Vehicles, containers and equipment  ................................ ................................ ................................ ... 3 
4.3 Loading and unloading  ................................ ................................ ................................ .........................  5 
4.3.1  General  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  5 
4.3.2  Loading and unloading facilities  ................................ ................................ ................................ .........  5 
5 Care and protection during transport  ................................ ................................ ................................ . 5 
5.1 General  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  5 
6 Precautions in hot/humid weather  ................................ ................................ ................................ ....... 6 
7 Rekking  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ...................  6 
Bibliography  ................................ ................................ ................................ ................................ ........................  7 
 DUS 733: 2017  
iv © UNBS 2017  – All rights reserved  
 Foreword  
Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) is a parastatal under the Ministry of Trade , Industry and 
Cooperatives established under Cap 327 , of the Laws of Uganda , as amended .  UNBS is mandated  to co -
ordinate the elaboration of standards and is  
(a) a member of International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) and  
(b) a contact point for the WHO/FAO Codex Alimentarius Commission on Food Standards, and  
(c) the National Enquiry Point on TBT  Agreement  of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).  
The work of preparing Uganda Standards is carried out through Technical Committees. A Technical 
Committee is established to deliberate on standards in a given field or area and consists of key stakeholders 
including gove rnment, academia, consumer groups, private sector and other interested parties.  
Draft Uganda Standards adopted by the Technical Committee are widely circulated to stakeholders and the 
general public for comments. The committee reviews the comments before recommending the draft standards 
for approval and declaration as Uganda Standards by the National Standards Council.  
The committee responsible for this document is Technical Committee UNBS/TC 2, Food and Agriculture, 
Subcommittee SC 12, Meat, poultry and p rocessed product . 
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition ( US 733:2007 ), which has been technically revised.  DUS 733:2017  
© UNBS 2017  – All rights reserved  v 
 Introduction  
Care for  slaughter animals through  primary production and transportation up to the abattoir is crucial  in 
achievi ng good quality and safety of meat.  Design and sanitation of the transport vehicles or vessels is very 
important in preventing  cross contamination of meat. Transportation and handling regimes are subject to 
change as  research and technology develops  with e volving market practices .  
This standard recognizes the basic principle of humaneness towards animals as the prime consideration in 
animal transportation . If animals which are treated well and protected from stress arrive at their destination in 
far bette r physical and mental condition , an improvement in  meat quality  is observed . This standard is 
intended to achieve a workable balance between the best interests of the animals an d the transportation 
industry.  
This standard in general, is intended for use in  promoting sound animal transportation and welfare practices. 
The recommendations contained herein do not claim to be comprehensive for all circumstances but attempt to 
define standards for livestock transportation on a species by species basis.  
For the p urpose of this standard, animals of interest include;  domestic ungulates, domestic solipeds , domestic  
birds i.e. poultry, farmed game,  farmed  game birds, including ratites, wild game, that is, wild land mammals 
and birds which are hunted (including those l iving in enclosed territ ory under conditions of freedom similar to 
those of wild game) or animals as otherwise specified by the competent authority intended for slaughter or 
hunted for meat . 
 DRAFT UGANDA STANDARD  DUS 733: 2017  
 
© UNBS 2017  – All rights reserved  1 
 Handlin g and transportation of slaughter animals — 
Requirements  
1 Scope   
This Draft Uganda  Stand ard specifies  the requirements for handling and transportatio n of live animals for 
slaughter . 
2 Normative references   
The following referenced  documents referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their conten t 
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For undated 
references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.  
US CAC/RCP 58 , Code of hygienic practice for meat  
3 Terms and definitions   
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.  
3.1 
Abattoir  
any establishment where specified animals are slaughtered and dressed for human consumption and that is 
approved, registered and/or listed b y the competent authority  
3.2 
competent authority  
official authority charged by the government with the control of meat hygiene, including setting and enforcing 
regulatory meat hygiene and quality requirement  
3.3 
competent person  
person who has the trainin g, knowledge, skills and ability to perform an assigned task, and who is subject to 
requirements specified by the competent authorit y 
3.4 
contamination  
intrusion process of undesirable compounds in the food that may be harmful for human consumption or 
comp romise with sa fety, may be physical, chemical or biological.  
3.5 
disease or defect  
any abnormality affecting safety and/or suitability of meat  
3.6 
establishment  
building or area used for performing meat safety and quality management activities that is appr oved, 
registered and/or listed by the competent authority for such purposes   
2 © UNBS 2017  – All rights reserved  
 3.7 
food chain  
sequence of all stages and operations involved in the production, processing, distribution, storage and 
handling of food/meat and its ingredients, from primary produ ction to consumption  (farm to fork)  
3.8 
game depot  
building in which killed wild game is temporarily held prior to transfer to an establishment, and which is 
approved, registered and/or listed by the competent authority for this purpose  
3.9 
Inspector  
compe tent person who is appointed, accredited or otherwise recognised by the competent authority to perform 
official meat hygiene activities on behalf of, or under the supervision of the competent authorit y 
3.10 
Meat  
all parts of an animal that are intended for , or have been judged as safe and suitable for human consumption  
3.11 
meat hygiene  
all conditions and measures necessary to ensure the safety and suitability of meat at all stages of the food 
chain  
3.12 
primary production  
all those steps in the food chain constituting animal production and transport of animals to the abattoir, or 
hunting and transporting wild game to a game depot  
3.13 
domestic ungulates  
are any members of a diverse group of primarily large mammals that includes odd -toed ungulates such as 
horses and rhinoceroses, and even -toed ungulates such as cattle, pigs, giraffes, c amels, deer, and 
hippopotamuses  
3.14 
ratite  
diverse group of large, flightless birds of the infraclass Palaeognathae. The systematics involved have been in 
flux. Some sources s tate that ratites include all the flightless birds of the Palaeognathae  
3.15 
domestic solipeds  
mammal having a single hoof on ea ch foot, as the horses ; a solid ungulate  
3.16 
Authentic document  
Documents that authorise animal movement issued by a competent  Government Authority  such as movement 
permit, cattle traders permit . 
4 Transportation of slaughter animals  
4.1 General requirements  
Transportation of animal for slaughter from one point to another shall be  done as  in accordance with FDUS 
CAC/RCP 58.  
4.1.1 Slaughter animals shall not move without authentic veterinary documents , such as movement permit, 
cattle traders permit  that authorise their movement issued by a competent Government Authority.  DUS 733: 2017  
© UNBS  2017  – All rights reserved  3 
 4.1.2  When transporting animals, only stock routes designat ed in accordance with US 778 shall be followed .  
4.1.3  Transportation of animals shall follow the most direct stock route and be undertaken in a timely manner 
to avoid un necessary stress to the animals.  
4.1.4  Loaded lorries and pick -ups shall have enough  space for the comfort of sla ughter animals during transit, 
cattle placed crosswise on a lorry shall allow 50 cm - 60 cm of the truck length for each animal.  
4.1.5  Animals shall not be transported with any other animal species other than of their own, how ever sheep 
and goats may be transported together.  
4.1.6  Animals shall be transported in upright positions.  
4.1.7  Temperature extremes shall be avoided when animals are transported and special precautions or 
postponements shall be adopted when temperature s are below 7 oC or above 29 oC since they threaten  the 
welfare of the animals.  
4.1.8  Small animals such as poultry, rabbits , goats, sheep and pigs shall be carried in appropriate containers if 
carried on bicycles or motorcycles.  
4.1.9  Animals shall not b e transported in vehicles intended for human transportation.  
4.1.10  Animals shall be untethered if possible  fed and watered prior to the time of departure  
4.1.11  Any transport that is necessary shall be carried out in a way that minimizes stress, pain and  suffering  of 
the animal  
4.1.12  The driver shall be accompanied with certified document  
4.1.1 3 Slaughter animals  shall be transported in accordance with the space requirements as  in Table 1.  
Table 1  — Space requirements for transportation of slaughter anim als 
Type of animal  Approximate 
weight Kgs  Area (M2) per 
animal, Minimum  No. of animals on truck of size, example  
   5.3 m x 2.2 m  4.5 m x 2.2 m  
Cattle (big)  >300 1.4 7-10 5-8 
Cattle medium  <300 0.9 10-11 9-10 
Pigs  <100 0.4 14-15 11-13 
Boars and sow s >100 0.8 3-34 28-30 
Sheep/goats 
medium  <35 0.3 40-35 10-12 
Sheep/ goats 
large  >35 0.4 14-16 30-35 
 
4.2 Vehicles, containers and equipment  
4.2.1  All vehicles and containers used for transporting animals shall have sides, and where appropriate, 
partiti ons that are secure, strong, and high enough to prevent animals from jumpin g, falling or being pushed 
out.  
4.2.2  Vehicles and containers shall have a quick release mechanism for partitions used to separate large 
animals to enable release of animals in the  event of straddling.   
4 © UNBS 2017  – All rights reserved  
 4.2.3  Vehicles and containers shall have secure, smooth fittings, and shall be free of protruding bolt heads 
and any other sharp protrusions  or loose bolts or latches fasten securely .  
4.2.4  Vehicle doors and internal gates shall be l arge enough to permit animals to pass through easily without 
bruising or injury.  
4.2.5  Vehicles and containers  shall be constructed so that no part of an animal can protrude from the vehicle 
or container  in order to avoid injuries .  
4.2.6  Vehicle and cont ainer design shall readily enable inspection of the animals in the transit.  
4.2.7  Vehicles used to pull trailers shall have sufficient power to smoothly accelerate the unit and sufficient 
braking ability to stop safely.  
4.2.8  Vehicles and containers used  to transport animals shall be cleaned, sanitized, and equipped with 
enough suitable fresh bedding at all times.  
4.2.9  Vehicles used to carry animals shall be safe and effective for movement of the animals .  
4.2.10  Commercial unloading facilities shall pr ovide an appropriate area, suitably equipped, where cleaning of 
vehicles used in the transportation  of animals can be done.  
4.2.11  Portable  ramps shall be stable an d its sides high enough to provide good traction for the animals.  
4.2.12  Sufficient ventila tion shall be available at all times whi le the animals are on a vehicle .  
4.2.13  Ventilation shall be adjustable from the outside of the vehicle in response to tem perature changes 
during a trip and use of adjustable weather panels is an effective way to ac hieve this.  
4.2.14  When  animals are transported in crates or bins, the design, construction, available space and state of 
repair shall allow the animals to be loaded, conveyed, and removed without injury.  
4.2.15  Chutes shall take advantage of natural beh aviour of animals. Most species prefer to follow a leader and 
to have no harsh changes in lighting. Animal handling is more easily accomplished if the alleyways and ramps 
have no sharp turns that could impede movement or could cause injury.  
4.2.16  Unless animals can be seen easily from outside the containers, every container used to transport 
animals shall have a sign or symbol to indicate that it contains live animals and  to show its upright position.  
4.2.17  Containers used for transporting animals shall  be securely placed on vehicles to prevent them from 
moving during the journey.  
4.2.18  When transporting animals in containers, attention shall be given to temperature, ventilation, facilities, 
and available space during the entire journey.  
4.2.19  Contai ners that hold animals shall be tilted as little as possible during all stages of loading and 
unloading .  
4.2.20  Suitable bedding  such as straw or wood shavings or appropriate mats shall be added to vehicles to 
assist in absorbing urine and faeces, provide  better footing for the animals and protect them from the hard 
floor.  
4.2.21  Vehicles shall be in full compliance with all highway traffic standards  
4.2.22  Containers containing animals shall always be moved smoothly and never thrown or dropped  DUS 733: 2017  
© UNBS  2017  – All rights reserved  5 
 4.3 Loading  and unloading  
4.3.1  General  
4.3.1.1  Prior to loading a vehicle , an interior inspection by competent person shall be performed and bedding 
added or other corrective measures taken to assure safe transportation.  
4.3.1.2  Animals shall be loaded slowly and  carefully to avoid discomfort due to noise, breezes, movement of 
objects, and flashes of light .  
4.3.1.3  Animals shall be loaded or unloaded using ramps in order to prevent injuries or suffering.   
4.3.1.4  If a handler leads an animal into a vehicle, there  shall be an avenue of escape for the handler should 
the animal initiate any unexpected behaviour.  
4.3.1.5  A system of early identification of injured animals prior to loading/unloading and an action plan shall be 
in place and known to all employees.  
4.3.1.6 To avoid excitement of the animals, abrupt movements by drivers and loaders shall be avoided. 
Negotiating sharp bends/corners or abrupt braking/stopping shall be avoided.  
4.3.1. 7 Electric prods shall not be applied to the head or  genital regions of a ny animal.   
4.3.1. 8 Tipping of animals off vehicles during off loading shall not be practiced.   
4.3.1.9 Beating and twisting/breaking tails, eye and nose poking and pouring hot water on the animal shall be 
avoided.  
4.3.1. 10 If possible m ixing unfamiliar an imals shall be avoided since  it can result in an increase in aggression, 
which in turn leads to additional stress . 
4.3.2  Loading and unloading facilities  
Loading and unloading facilities shall have the following characteristics:  
a) ramps shall accommodate t he different sizes of vehicles in common use, for example, by providing 
docks of different heights, or adjustable ramps. No gap shall exist between the ramp, its sides and the 
vehicle;  
b) ramps and chutes shall be of solid  construction a nd free from sharp pr ojections;   
c) the dock surface shall be levelled  with the vehicle floor; and  
d) prior to loading, watering points for animals shall be provided  depending on the time and distance the 
animals shall take on the truck.  
5 Care and protection during transport  
5.1 General  
5.1.1  Compet ent drivers shall start, drive, and stop trucks smoothly to prevent animals from being thrown off 
their feet .  
5.1.2  Competent  drivers shall check each load immediately before departure to ensure that the anim als have 
been properly load ed and e ach load shall be checked again early in the trip and adjustments made as 
appropriate.   
6 © UNBS 2017  – All rights reserved  
 5.1.3  Competent  drivers shall check for signs of general discomfort of th e animals, such as overheating using 
periodic checks throughout the trip.  
5.1.4  All pla ces where animals are temporarily assembled for sale, show, feed, water and rest, or for any other 
reason, shall have adequate facilities for safe loading, unloading and holding.  
5.1.5 Competent  drivers shall practice defensive driving by ensuring that ad equate space is available , should 
an emergency require an unexpected stop. In addition, they shall negotiate turns in the smoothest possible 
manner  
5.1.6  Competent  drivers  shall be protected from any injury cause d by animals during the transportation 
proce ss 
6 Precautions in hot/humid weather  
During hot and humid weather, the following precautions shall be taken to avoid stress, suffering and possibly 
death caused by the combination of high temperature and high humidity:  
a) animals shall be handled carefully  because transportation in hot, humid weather is particularly 
stressful, and increases the chances of heat stroke;  
b) weather conditions shall be observed carefully and ventilation adjusted accordingly;  
c) during hot and humid periods, animal tran sportation sh all be rescheduled;  
d) periods of intense traffic congestion shall be avoided;  
e) vehicles containing animals shall not be parked in direct sunlight.  
f) when it is necessary to stop, the duration of the stop shall be minimized to prevent the build -up of  heat 
inside the vehicle; and,  
g) loading density shall be reduced accordingly  in hot weather  
h) whenever possible, journeys during hot, humid periods shall be avoided;  
7 Rekking  
7.1 Only cattle, sheep and goats can be successively moved on hoof, however the journey sh ould be 
planned paying attention  to the distance to be travelled, and opportunities  for grazing, watering and overnight 
rest accompanied by authentic  documents .  
7.2 Animals shall be walked on cooler times of the day and allowed sufficient  time to be reste d and watered 
before loading  
7.3 The maximum distance shall be as that stated in Table 2.  
Table 2 — Maximum distances for trekking  
Species  One day journey (km)  More than one day (km)  
First day  Subsequent days  
Cattle  30 24 22 
Sheep and goat  24 24 16 
 DUS 733: 2017  
© UNBS  2017  – All rights reserved  7 
 Bibliography  
[1] Guidelines for Humane Handling, Transport and Slaughter of Livestock, FOA  
[2] US ISO 22000:2005, Food safety management systems — Requirements for any organization in the 
food chain  
[3] US 733:2007, Requirements for Transportation of sla ughter animals  
 DUS 733: 2017  
© UNBS 2017  – All rights reserved  9 
 Certification marking  
Products that conform to Uganda standards may be marked with Uganda National Bureau of Standards 
(UNBS) Certification Mark shown in the figure below.  
The use of the UNBS Certification Mark is governed by the Standard s Act, and the Regulations made 
thereunder. This mark can be used only by those licensed under the certification mark scheme operated by 
the Uganda National Bureau of Standards and in conjunction with the relevant Uganda Standard. The 
presence of this mark  on a product or in relation to a product is an assurance that the goods comply with the 
requirements of that standard under a system of supervision, control and testing in accordance with the 
certification mark scheme of the Uganda National Bureau of Stan dards. UNBS marked products are 
continually checked by UNBS for conformity to that standard.  
Further particulars of the terms and conditions of licensing may be obtained from the Director, Uganda 
National Bureau of Standards.  
 
 DUS 733: 2017    
 
ICS 67.120.10 
Price based on nn pages  
© UNBS  2017– All rights reserved