Sheep transport — whether for breeding, sale, or slaughter — is a high-risk welfare event involving mixing stress, journey length, loading trauma, and temperature extremes.
Sheep are prey species with pronounced stress responses to novel environments and mixing. Transport combines multiple stressors — unfamiliar animals, movement, noise, and often extreme temperatures — simultaneously. EU regulations set minimum standards but enforcement is inconsistent. The welfare case for shorter journey times, pre-loading feed and water withdrawal limits, and careful handling is well-supported by evidence. Slaughter at or near the farm of origin eliminates transport stress entirely for slaughter animals. Better training for hauliers and loading operatives reduces handling-related stress and injury.