CALGARY, Alta. – Alberta Farm Animal Care (AFAC) has announced it’s developing a comprehensive training program for livestock truckers.

Tim O’Byrne made the announcement on behalf of AFAC at the Animal Transportation Association’s Livestock Trucking Workshop in Calgary, Alta.

“The logistics of transporting livestock are complex and impact the over-all quality performance of meat products. Improved handling reduces losses associated with livestock stress,” said O’Byrne.

He added “The majority of truckers do a good job and we know from the extensive work done consulting with haulers, that they recognize the value of training.”

The Quality Livestock Transport program will focus on the humane and safe transport of livestock including regulatory requirements in the U.S. and Canada. AFAC is developing an advisory committee to oversee the project, which will include the topics of livestock handling, loading, biosecurity and recognizing and dealing with livestock that’s unfit for transport. Truckers who complete the one-day program will receive a certificate – provided they pass the test.