Livestock

Livestock Transport Welfare: Key Issues and Standards

The transport of livestock for slaughter or sale is among the highest-risk welfare events in the production cycle, associated with stress, injury, and mortality.

Key Facts

An estimated 4 billion farm animals are transported within the EU annually
Journey time is the single most important transport welfare variable
Loading and unloading are associated with the highest rates of injury and stress
Sick, injured, and unfit animals should not be transported under EU law
Temperature control during transport is critical, particularly for pigs in summer

Welfare Considerations

Animals transported over long distances experience cumulative stress from loading, motion, unfamiliar environments, and social disruption. The highest-risk periods are loading and unloading when injury rates are greatest. Limiting journey times, maintaining good loading facilities, and training drivers in animal handling are the most effective transport welfare interventions.

What You Can Do

Support legislation limiting livestock transport journey times
Choose meat from locally slaughtered livestock with shorter transport distances
Advocate for enforcement of transport welfare regulations
Support investment in local abattoir infrastructure to reduce transport distances
Engage with campaigns to end live export of livestock for slaughter