Transport is one of the highest-risk welfare events in a cattle's life, with loading, journey stress, and unloading causing significant injury and suffering.
Cattle subjected to high-stress loading procedures including electric goads experience acute pain, fear, and adrenaline surge. Transport itself causes motion stress, social disruption from unfamiliar group mixing, and thermal stress. Falls during loading and unloading cause bruising, fractures, and joint injuries. Poorly ventilated vehicles cause heat stress in summer. Animals that arrive at slaughter facilities in poor welfare states have elevated stress hormones affecting both their welfare and meat quality outcomes.