The final journey to slaughter is among the most stressful in a farm animal life — regulations and practices vary widely.
Transport to slaughter subjects farm animals to a cascade of stressors: loading in unfamiliar facilities, transport in crowded vehicles, unfamiliar sounds and smells, and the ultimate destination. The welfare impacts are real and measurable — animals arrive with elevated stress hormones, injuries from falls and jostling, and physiological states that indicate significant suffering. US regulations are among the weakest in the developed world for transport duration. Shorter journey time limits, mandatory water access during transport, and electronic monitoring of vehicle conditions are the primary regulatory improvements advocates are pursuing.