*8.3. Reducing Animal Density*

It has been argued that currently used stocking densities on sheep voyages are too high [13,14], contributing to too grea<sup>t</sup> a WBT rise, especially when the prevailing environmental conditions are already close to the HST. The HSRA model uses stocking density as a critical factor in determining WBT rises across the deck. As detailed above, there is little scientific literature to allow accurate elucidation of threshold densities that would safeguard cattle and sheep across all voyages, and the HSRA has extrapolated data for risk management. However, given that stocking density is the key parameter in managing livestock in long haul voyages to the Middle East, sizable reductions in allowable stocking densities have recently been suggested [13,14]. Further studies should be undertaken to examine the effects of such changes across stock classes. The use of allometric equations [88,89] to determine space allocation of livestock undergoing sea transport has been proposed, and further work is required to determine the appropriate *k* values for use in allometric equations to appropriately limit the wet bulb rise. Reducing stocking density may also improve other animal welfare issues such as the ability of animals to cope with ship motion [90].
