Water and Food

Water should be available to animals when they are confined in a pen for any period of time. It is also good practice to supply water to animals when they have travelled long distances. Water should be provided in containers which are accessible for the types of animals penned, e.g. nipple drinkers are only suitable for pigs and buckets must not be so deep that animals cannot reach the bottom.

When pens are used for multiple species, the water must be readily available to all species, but not in a position where it can be fouled. Contrary to popular belief, ruminants generally need more water in the winter when they are on dry, concentrated diets, than in the summer when they are eating more fresh grass.

An adequate number of drinkers must also be supplied for the pen size, to reduce any aggression and bullying which can prevent certain animals drinking. Aggression and bullying is generally more prevalent in pens which contain animals from different groups, e.g. buyers’ pens in markets; mixing should be avoided.

Food should be made available to animals if they are to be kept in pens overnight.

Pigs are single-stomached animals and it is possible for them to suffer from travel sickness, so feeding immediately before travelling can compromise their welfare rather than be a benefit. Cattle and sheep are not seen to experience this problem so food can be made available up to the point of travel with no major concern.

When feed is given to a group of animals in a confined space, it must be given in quantities and positioned in such a way that will avoid aggression amongst the group.

Next: Casualty Pens