Farmed Animals

Pig Transport: Welfare at Every Stage

Pig transport involves multiple welfare challenges from loading stress through journey conditions to lairage handling at the abattoir.

Key Facts

Pigs have poor thermoregulation making temperature extremes during transport dangerous
Mixing unfamiliar pigs causes fighting that leaves wounds on up to 40% of transported pigs
Pre-slaughter lairage stress affects meat quality as well as animal welfare
Journey time reduction is the single most effective welfare improvement in pig transport

Welfare Considerations

Each stage of the transport journey creates welfare risks that compound. Loading stress is followed by vibration and motion sickness, then unfamiliar environments and conspecific aggression when pigs are mixed. Heat stress or cold stress during the journey adds physiological burden. Short-journey, low-mixing systems dramatically reduce cumulative stress.

What You Can Do

Support local abattoir infrastructure to reduce necessary transport distances
Advocate for stocking density standards during pig transport based on welfare evidence
Choose pork from local producers where shorter transport routes are documented
Support legislation prohibiting mixing of unfamiliar pigs in transport without adequate space