Farm Animals

Welfare of Animals in Cold Storage and Live Markets

Live animal markets and cold storage of living animals create welfare problems from temperature stress, crowding, and extended holding under poor conditions.

Key Facts

Live animal markets hold animals for extended periods in often poor welfare conditions
Cold storage of live seafood causes prolonged thermal stress and slow death
Live haul trucks carrying poultry to slaughter expose birds to severe temperature extremes
Wet markets with live animals were identified as potential zoonotic disease transmission sites
Conditions in live markets are rarely inspected for welfare compliance

Welfare Considerations

Live market and cold storage welfare harms are severe and systemic. Animals held in poor conditions for extended periods experience prolonged suffering that pre-slaughter stunning cannot retroactively address. Welfare standards for live market holding are urgently needed.

What You Can Do

Advocate for welfare standards governing live animal market conditions
Support campaigns to improve live poultry transport welfare
Donate to organizations documenting and improving live market animal conditions
Choose seafood from sellers with humane live storage practices