Billions of farm animals are transported to slaughter annually. In the EU alone, over 1.5 billion animals are transported each year. Journey times range from minutes to days. The welfare impact of transport scales with journey duration, loading density, temperature, and quality of handling at loading and unloading.
Transport causes acute stress characterized by cortisol elevation, tachycardia, immune suppression, and weight loss from dehydration and glycogen depletion. Species differences matter: pigs are particularly stress-sensitive; cattle and sheep show moderate responses; poultry experience high mortality under poor transport conditions.
EU Regulation 1/2005 on the protection of animals during transport sets space requirements, journey time limits (8 hours for most species, 24 hours for cattle and sheep with water and feed provision), and temperature ranges. Enforcement has been inconsistent, with significant violations documented by NGOs including Animals International.
Research consistently shows welfare outcomes worsen with journey duration. Slaughtering animals at or near the farm (mobile slaughter units, farm kill) eliminates transport stress entirely. Short journey time limits are welfare-positive and are advocated by veterinary bodies. Economic interests in centralized slaughter create resistance to reduction.
Animals arriving at slaughterhouses may be stressed, injured, or fatigued. Welfare on arrival — lairage conditions, water access, rest time before stunning — influences final welfare outcomes. Stunning must occur promptly and effectively. High-welfare slaughterhouses maintain lairage conditions that allow partial stress recovery before stunning.
Broiler chickens transported in crates at high density during temperature extremes suffer high mortality (dead on arrival rates of 0.1-0.5% are common). Crating at night when temperatures are lower, appropriate ventilation, and journey time limits of 4-6 hours reduce mortality. Pre-slaughter food withdrawal (to reduce contamination) adds to welfare stress.