Long-distance transport of cattle causes significant welfare problems throughout the journey.
Cattle transported for long periods experience a cascade of welfare insults — the stress of loading and mixing, physical injury from movement, dehydration, exhaustion, and immune suppression that predisposes them to respiratory disease. The cumulative suffering across millions of animals transported long distances represents an enormous welfare burden. Policy limiting journey times and improving mobile slaughter provision is among the highest-impact welfare interventions available.