The transport of farm animals to slaughter, between farms, and for other purposes involves significant welfare risk. Understanding transport welfare and its regulation helps identify priorities for improvement.
Animal transport welfare failures cluster at predictable points. Loading involves unfamiliar humans, loud noise, and ramps that animals are reluctant to ascend — motivating electric prod use that causes pain. Journey conditions including vehicle overcrowding, inadequate ventilation, and water deprivation cause distress across the journey. Unloading at destination repeats loading stresses with animals in a deteriorated physical state. Stress during transport causes immune suppression that predisposes cattle and pigs to respiratory disease in the days following transport — a welfare harm that outlasts the journey itself. Long-distance transport of calves and sheep — legal under EU regulations — involves extended periods of welfare risk for young or vulnerable animals.