---
title: "Welfare outcomes for livestock transported on Northern Isles ferry routes"
ocid: "ocds-r6ebe6-0000710441"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000710441"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000710441.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000710441.json"
source: "Public Contracts Scotland"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT"
published: "2023-03-08"
---

# Welfare outcomes for livestock transported on Northern Isles ferry routes

Buyer: SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-r6ebe6-0000710441

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## Summary

The Scottish Government has awarded a contract for "Welfare outcomes for livestock transported on Northern Isles ferry routes". The tender was focused on ensuring the welfare of animals during sea transport, particularly cattle and sheep from Orkney and Shetland to Aberdeen. The buying organisation, the Scottish Government, is classified under "Body governed by public law" and is active in the Education and Housing industry categories. The procurement method was an open procedure, and the contract worth £70,000 GBP was signed on January 25, 2023, under the main procurement category of services.

This tender presents opportunities for businesses involved in animal welfare, transportation, monitoring equipment, and livestock industry. Companies with expertise in providing innovative monitoring solutions for livestock welfare in sea transport conditions are well-suited to compete. The procurement stage is complete, and the contract is active with a contract period starting from February 1, 2023, until December 30, 2023. Businesses interested in providing services for maintaining animal welfare standards during maritime transport should consider engaging with the Scottish Government for potential future opportunities in this domain.

## Notice

Introduction 4. This project has been commissioned by the Scottish Government Animal Welfare team to inform consideration of possible future changes to animal transport legislation and how journey time at sea should be treated, following a recommendation by the UK Farm Animal Welfare Committee that this should be reviewed. Background & Context 5. Large numbers of cattle and sheep are traditionally transported from Orkney and Shetland to Aberdeen by sea, particularly in the autumn when animals born earlier in the year are moved for rearing on the mainland. These movements are essential to the economic viability of livestock production in the Northern Isles, allowing young animals to be reared at grass during the long daylight periods in the summer months then moved for further rearing and finishing on the mainland before the onset of poor winter conditions. A specific livestock "cassette" system was designed and introduced 20 years ago to provide suitable arrangements for bedding, drainage, feed and water, ventilation and inspection for animals carried on roll-on/roll-off freight ferries, to replace the previous arrangements for dedicated livestock vessels. The time in the cassette system, typically up to 14 hours, has been classed as "neutral time" rather than rest or travel time for the purposes of livestock transport legislation, but this interpretation was questioned following a visit to Aberdeen in 2018 by the UK Farm Animal Welfare Committee, who recommended it should be reviewed and classed as a form of travel time as part of their Opinion on the Welfare of Animals during Transport published in April 2000. FAWC opinion on the welfare of animals during transport: SG response - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) 6. The outcome of ferry journeys in the cassette system for animals in different weather and sea conditions has been monitored by APHA and local authority inspectors since it was introduced and is believed to be generally acceptable, although anecdotally animals can sometimes appear tired when they arrive after particularly rough crossings. Basic temperature recording was undertaken when the system was first introduced. However more formalised monitoring of the temperature within the cassettes, humidity and vessel movements experienced by the animals during different weather and sea states and any effect of these on the condition and behaviour of animals after arrival on these commercial journeys would provide more reliable information to inform a review of the "neutral time" interpretation. There is limited research on the effect of sea vessel movements on ruminants elsewhere although this does suggest possible digestive tract discomfort and effects on posture in sheep in some conditions. 7. The Scottish Government response to the FAWC Opinion stated that "The Scottish Government will consider reviewing the concept of "neutral time" for animals transported unloaded in conditions equivalent to farm accommodation in livestock vessels or cassette systems, taking into account the practical experience gained in operating the cassette system in Scotland over many years and any relevant future research." The transport of livestock by sea from the Northern Isles is regarded as essential for the sector so anything that would disrupt this trade or involve additional costs is highly sensitive.

### Lot Information

Lot 1

Scope/Statement of Requirement 8. It is expected that initial scoping work would involve familiarisation with the "cassette" system and liaison with the ferry company and key stakeholders to secure their co-operation with the project. Scottish Government officials will be able to make necessary introductions and facilitate this. This work would include gathering information on typical current journeys including the numbers and classes of livestock being carried on different routes, journey times, and the range of weather and sea conditions experienced throughout the year. There would be a steering group meeting to agree the approach to be taken to further work after this initial scoping. 9. Suitable monitoring equipment would be identified to continuously record and log as a minimum the temperature and humidity experienced by cattle and sheep in the cassette system, and the forces associated with movements of the vessel in three dimensions. This should allow correlation with external weather conditions and sea state during the journey. Consideration of novel sensors or technology that could be used on commercial journeys would be appropriate. 10. Suitable animal-based measures to assess welfare that could be practically applied to commercial consignments before and after journeys would be identified. Blood sampling of animals is not expected. 11. The monitoring equipment and welfare assessment technique could be trialled initially in the quieter spring/summer months to establish the best system before monitoring a representative number of journeys in the peak autumn period in different weather/sea conditions. 12. Analysis of the data collected should allow comparisons of welfare outcomes for livestock in different weather and sea conditions and identification of risk factors that may be associated with any sub-optimal outcomes.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Public Contracts Scotland |
| Latest notice | https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAR473134 |
| Notice type | PCS Notice - Website Contract Award Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Open |
| Procurement method details | Open procedure |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Large |
| All stages | Tender, Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 8 Mar 2023 |
| Submission deadline | 28 Nov 2022 |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | 25 Jan 2023 |
| Contract period | 1 Feb 2023 - 30 Dec 2023 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | Not specified |
| Contracts value | £70,000 |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Not specified |
| Contracts status | Active |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | SCOTTISH GOVERNMENT |
| Locality | GLASGOW |
| Post town | Glasgow |
| Postcode | G2 8LU |
| Country | Scotland |
| ITL 1 | TLM Scotland |
| ITL 2 | TLM3 West Central Scotland |
| ITL 3 | TLM32 Glasgow City |
| Local authority | Glasgow City |
| Electoral ward | Anderston/City/Yorkhill |
| Westminster constituency | Glasgow North |
| Delivery location | TLM Scotland |

## Supplier

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Number of suppliers | 1 |
| Supplier names | SRUC |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

### Codes

- 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

## Release History

- 8 Mar 2023 at 00:00 - Award - PCS Notice - Website Contract Award Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAR473134
- 17 Oct 2022 at 00:00 - Tender - PCS Notice - Website Contract Notice - https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=OCT461877

## Documents

- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/NoticeDownload/DownloadDocument.aspx?id=OCT461877&idx=1
  17th October 2022 - CR/2022/12 - ITT
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=OCT461877
  Welfare outcomes for livestock transported on Northern Isles ferry routes - Introduction 4. This project has been commissioned by the Scottish Government Animal Welfare team to inform consideration of possible future changes to animal transport legislation and how journey time at sea should be treated, following a recommendation by the UK Farm Animal Welfare Committee that this should be reviewed. Background & Context 5. Large numbers of cattle and sheep are traditionally transported from Orkney and Shetland to Aberdeen by sea, particularly in the autumn when animals born earlier in the year are moved for rearing on the mainland. These movements are essential to the economic viability of livestock production in the Northern Isles, allowing young animals to be reared at grass during the long daylight periods in the summer months then moved for further rearing and finishing on the mainland before the onset of poor winter conditions. A specific livestock "cassette" system was designed and introduced 20 years ago to provide suitable arrangements for bedding, drainage, feed and water, ventilation and inspection for animals carried on roll-on/roll-off freight ferries, to replace the previous arrangements for dedicated livestock vessels. The time in the cassette system, typically up to 14 hours, has been classed as "neutral time" rather than rest or travel time for the purposes of livestock transport legislation, but this interpretation was questioned following a visit to Aberdeen in 2018 by the UK Farm Animal Welfare Committee, who recommended it should be reviewed and classed as a form of travel time as part of their Opinion on the Welfare of Animals during Transport published in April 2000. FAWC opinion on the welfare of animals during transport: SG response - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) 6. The outcome of ferry journeys in the cassette system for animals in different weather and sea conditions has been monitored by APHA and local authority inspectors since it was introduced and is believed to be generally acceptable, although anecdotally animals can sometimes appear tired when they arrive after particularly rough crossings. Basic temperature recording was undertaken when the system was first introduced. However more formalised monitoring of the temperature within the cassettes, humidity and vessel movements experienced by the animals during different weather and sea states and any effect of these on the condition and behaviour of animals after arrival on these commercial journeys would provide more reliable information to inform a review of the "neutral time" interpretation. There is limited research on the effect of sea vessel movements on ruminants elsewhere although this does suggest possible digestive tract discomfort and effects on posture in sheep in some conditions. 7. The Scottish Government response to the FAWC Opinion stated that "The Scottish Government will consider reviewing the concept of "neutral time" for animals transported unloaded in conditions equivalent to farm accommodation in livestock vessels or cassette systems, taking into account the practical experience gained in operating the cassette system in Scotland over many years and any relevant future research." The transport of livestock by sea from the Northern Isles is regarded as essential for the sector so anything that would disrupt this trade or involve additional costs is highly sensitive.
- https://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/search/show/search_view.aspx?ID=MAR473134
  Welfare outcomes for livestock transported on Northern Isles ferry routes - Introduction 4. This project has been commissioned by the Scottish Government Animal Welfare team to inform consideration of possible future changes to animal transport legislation and how journey time at sea should be treated, following a recommendation by the UK Farm Animal Welfare Committee that this should be reviewed. Background & Context 5. Large numbers of cattle and sheep are traditionally transported from Orkney and Shetland to Aberdeen by sea, particularly in the autumn when animals born earlier in the year are moved for rearing on the mainland. These movements are essential to the economic viability of livestock production in the Northern Isles, allowing young animals to be reared at grass during the long daylight periods in the summer months then moved for further rearing and finishing on the mainland before the onset of poor winter conditions. A specific livestock "cassette" system was designed and introduced 20 years ago to provide suitable arrangements for bedding, drainage, feed and water, ventilation and inspection for animals carried on roll-on/roll-off freight ferries, to replace the previous arrangements for dedicated livestock vessels. The time in the cassette system, typically up to 14 hours, has been classed as "neutral time" rather than rest or travel time for the purposes of livestock transport legislation, but this interpretation was questioned following a visit to Aberdeen in 2018 by the UK Farm Animal Welfare Committee, who recommended it should be reviewed and classed as a form of travel time as part of their Opinion on the Welfare of Animals during Transport published in April 2000. FAWC opinion on the welfare of animals during transport: SG response - gov.scot (www.gov.scot) 6. The outcome of ferry journeys in the cassette system for animals in different weather and sea conditions has been monitored by APHA and local authority inspectors since it was introduced and is believed to be generally acceptable, although anecdotally animals can sometimes appear tired when they arrive after particularly rough crossings. Basic temperature recording was undertaken when the system was first introduced. However more formalised monitoring of the temperature within the cassettes, humidity and vessel movements experienced by the animals during different weather and sea states and any effect of these on the condition and behaviour of animals after arrival on these commercial journeys would provide more reliable information to inform a review of the "neutral time" interpretation. There is limited research on the effect of sea vessel movements on ruminants elsewhere although this does suggest possible digestive tract discomfort and effects on posture in sheep in some conditions. 7. The Scottish Government response to the FAWC Opinion stated that "The Scottish Government will consider reviewing the concept of "neutral time" for animals transported unloaded in conditions equivalent to farm accommodation in livestock vessels or cassette systems, taking into account the practical experience gained in operating the cassette system in Scotland over many years and any relevant future research." The transport of livestock by sea from the Northern Isles is regarded as essential for the sector so anything that would disrupt this trade or involve additional costs is highly sensitive.

## Notice URLs

- http://
- http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Government/Procurement/Selling/supplier-enquiries
- http://www.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk
- http://www.scotland.gov.uk
- https://api.publiccontractsscotland.gov.uk/v1/Notice?id=ocds-r6ebe6-0000710441

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-r6ebe6-0000710441. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-r6ebe6-0000710441.json.