Heat Stress During Livestock Transport

Livestock transport in hot conditions causes severe heat stress, suffering and mortality, requiring strict temperature controls and management practices.

Key Facts

The legal temperature limit for livestock transport in EU vehicles is 35 degrees Celsius
Summer transport mortality can be ten times higher than in cooler months
Pigs are particularly vulnerable due to limited ability to thermoregulate
Reducing stocking density, increasing ventilation and scheduling travel at night reduces risk
Water deprivation compounds heat stress significantly during transport

Welfare Considerations

Transport in hot weather combines multiple stressors: heat, humidity, dehydration, motion, noise and social disruption. Animals that survive the journey may arrive in severely compromised condition requiring extended recovery. Mortality during transport represents the most extreme welfare failure, but surviving animals may experience prolonged suffering throughout the journey. Climate change is making summer transport increasingly challenging, requiring proactive regulatory and management responses.

What You Can Do

Support campaigns for stronger summer transport restrictions
Advocate for mandatory temperature monitoring in livestock vehicles
Choose products from farms with short supply chains minimising transport distances
Support research into heat-stress resistant livestock management strategies