Live animal markets that sell domestic and wild animals for food create significant welfare concerns and disease transmission risks that have attracted global attention following COVID-19.
Live market welfare failures are systematic. Animals transported long distances are often deprived of food, water, and ventilation. Crowded holding conditions cause injury and disease transmission. Novel species encounters create stress and pathogen mixing. Slaughter in market conditions is often far from the welfare standards achievable in purpose-built abattoirs. The welfare case for reform does not require eliminating live markets — it requires separating wild from domestic species, improving holding conditions, requiring rapid slaughter, and enforcing existing animal welfare standards. The One Health framework that integrates animal, human, and ecosystem health provides the most coherent policy approach.