River transport of cattle in northern Brazil - a systematic review

The river transport of cattle by barges is a common practice in western Pará, where rivers are the main access routes to livestock production, slaughter, and marketing areas. In this context, the long journeys made by boats or ferries adapted for cattle transport can expose animals to conditions of thermal stress, due to the high relative humidity of the region, temperature and humidity fluctuations, and wind speed. This review was conducted through a literature search in the ScienceDirect and PubMed databases. Inclusion criteria were full-text articles written in English and Portuguese that discussed the legal aspects, stress, management, challenges, and prospects of river transport of cattle in northern Brazil. As exclusion criteria, studies that did not align with the study's objective were disregarded. The PRISMA checklist was used for conducting this review. The region relies on river transport due to road limitations, using rivers as the main logistical routes for moving products. The poor infrastructure of ports and vessels compromises animal welfare and highlights the need for investments to ensure efficiency and competitiveness in the production chain. River transport of cattle in western Para is an important component of Amazon livestock farming, being essential for product distribution and the integrity of the production chain. This activity involves challenges related to animal welfare, associated with adverse environmental factors, stocking density, long travel periods, and the constant movement of vessels. The implementation of good management practices, adequate infrastructure, and continuous monitoring strategies emerges as an effective way to reduce stress and prevent injuries during transport, along with technologies for monitoring and evaluating composite indices.