Live sheep exports from the UK to EU countries and beyond involve some of the most prolonged and stressful transport journeys documented in European animal welfare monitoring.
Long-distance live sheep transport involves sustained stress from social disruption, novel environments, unfamiliar companions, motion, temperature extremes and feed and water deprivation. Physiological stress markers rise within hours of transport and remain elevated throughout long journeys. Lame, sick and pregnant animals that should be excluded from transport are routinely found in export vehicles. The UK's 2024 live export ban — after decades of campaigning — demonstrates that policy change is achievable. The same arguments apply with equal force to EU member state exports, where the welfare evidence is identical.