Plan to beat cowboys
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by Karen Miles • Reputable livestock hauliers are being urged to group together to prevent the possible extinction of their international business in the face of hardening attitudes from politicians.
The proposal that the 25 largest international animal carriers should meet comes as European Union Agriculture Ministers prepare to thrash out details of the first community-wide regulations governing the transport of livestock.
It comes from Graham Gilder, head of Gloucestershire-based Graham Gilder Haulage, and brother of fellow livestock hauliers Peter and Gordon Gilder.
Graham Gilder wants law-abiding livestock hauliers to drive the cowboys out. This would involve reporting alleged law-breakers to the Licensing Authorities.
He also advocates increased co-operation between hauliers through the sharing of disinfecting facilities and lairage sites used for unloading animals in transit.
Animal welfare group Compassion in World Farming dismisses Gilder's idea, describing EU livestock transport regulations as "woefully inadequate".
It says Germany, Denmark and Holland will be calling for an eight-hour maximum journey time for animals on their way to abbatoirs.
C Another Gilder brother, William—who buys and sells livestock—was saved from a letter bomb last month after the device exploded at Royal Mail's Coventry sorting office.