Long-distance transport of live animals for slaughter causes prolonged suffering that could be avoided.
Live animal export involves some of the worst welfare conditions in modern animal agriculture. Animals are confined in crowded conditions, often in extreme temperatures, for journeys that can span thousands of miles and multiple days. Death rates during transport are significant, and survivors often arrive in poor condition. The sole motivation for live export over meat export is economic — importing countries want to control slaughter. Welfare advocates increasingly argue that meat trade should replace live animal trade entirely.