Live animal export subjects millions of cattle, sheep, and pigs to journeys lasting days or weeks. The welfare costs of transport stress, disease, and extreme temperatures are well-documented.
Live animal export involves cumulative welfare harms: loading stress, road transport to port, waiting at port, sea voyage in crowded conditions with variable temperature and ventilation, and unloading at destination. Each stage adds stress that compounds previous harms. Summer heat on live export ships can cause heat stress deaths — documented mass mortality events have occurred in Gulf-bound sheep shipments. Cattle in 3-4 week sea voyages lose significant body weight and experience chronic stress. The alternative — exporting chilled or frozen carcasses rather than live animals — eliminates transport welfare harms while maintaining trade in animal products.