Cattle transport welfare depends on vehicle design, stocking density, journey duration and driver behaviour, with preventable welfare costs from poor practice widespread across the industry.
Cattle during transport experience fear responses to novel stimuli, disruption of social groups, thermal stress and physical effort to maintain balance during vehicle motion. Injuries from fighting between unfamiliar individuals are common and may be severe. Dehydration during long journeys reduces blood volume and increases physiological stress. Many transport-related welfare problems are preventable through attention to loading group composition and journey planning.