Millions of farm animals are transported for hours or days to distant slaughterhouses, experiencing significant welfare costs that local slaughter could avoid.
Long-distance transport subjects animals to cumulative welfare insults: food and water restriction, social disruption, novel environments, motion sickness, and temperature extremes. Animals that are already compromised by injury or illness face significantly heightened risk. Local slaughter eliminates the transport journey entirely and is supported by animal welfare organizations, local food advocates, and some farmers. Export of live animals for slaughter should be replaced with chilled meat trade.