Thanks very much.
To give you an example, the feed, water and rest interval for cattle able to eat exclusively hay and grain would be 36 hours. From taking food and water away, transporting them and providing them feed, water and rest, for a more mature beef cow it would be 36 hours.
Transports have different ways of ventilating. Some are open-sided with slats. Some will have probably not as many fans or abilities to mist and cool animals.
Yes, on a hot and humid day, I would be concerned about not having a trailer moving, because the ventilation for some of the species would be important. On cooler days, there are other ways to manage ventilation.
The requirement in the regulations is really that animals have proper airflow and that they maintain their proper temperature. For transports, there is, at times, the ability to stop, but it depends on the weather and a number of circumstances. That is why we have given CFIA inspectors interpretive guidance, so that they can use their enforcement discretion with respect to the requirements for those feed, water and rest times.
When unforeseen circumstances occur and a truck operator demonstrates that decisions have been made in the best interests of animals, the guidance we have provided and the training we have provided to inspectors, which industry has been involved with and is aware of, allow them to use some criteria, such as whether the incident is an infrequent occurrence, whether it is due to an unforeseen circumstance or it is reasonable under the circumstances, whether the animals are suffering, and whether the animals are being monitored.
Our inspectors use judgment, and they look at the situation in its totality and determine whether enforcement and compliance actions are required or whether some discretion is merited.