Livestock

Sheep Transport Welfare and EU Standards

Sheep transport is a common and welfare-significant event in sheep production, with long journeys to distant markets and slaughterhouses creating cumulative welfare impacts.

Key Facts

Sheep are transported for sale, slaughter, and breeding throughout their productive lives
Journey times to slaughter of over 8 hours are common in some supply chains
Loading and unloading are the highest-risk phases for injury and acute stress
Sheep transported in mixed groups experience social stress from unfamiliar companions
Live export of sheep from the UK to EU and beyond has historically involved very long journeys

Welfare Considerations

Sheep transported over long distances experience cumulative physiological stress, hunger, and social disruption. The highest-risk welfare impacts occur at loading when handling is most intensive. Journey times of over 8 hours cause demonstrable welfare harm, and the EU is considering stricter limits. The UK ban on live sheep export for slaughter reduces some of the longest journey welfare impacts for animals departing UK shores.

What You Can Do

Support campaigns to reduce maximum livestock transport journey times
Choose lamb from locally slaughtered animals with shorter transport distances
Advocate for enforcement of transport welfare regulations throughout supply chains
Support investment in regional abattoir infrastructure reducing transport necessity
Engage with campaigns against long-distance live sheep export from EU countries