Livestock transport causes acute stress that can be significantly reduced through evidence-based best practices.
Livestock transport welfare has improved considerably as the industry has adopted low-stress handling techniques developed by Temple Grandin and others. However, implementation is uneven. Mixing animals from different groups during transport causes fighting. Inadequate space, extreme temperatures, and long journeys without water compound stress. Loading and unloading — points of maximum handling — are particularly high-risk. Training in low-stress handling and investment in well-designed loading facilities provide cost-effective welfare improvements with measurable productivity benefits.