Long-distance livestock transport causes significant cumulative welfare harm, with rest stops, water access, and journey time limits providing measurable welfare improvements for the millions of animals transported annually.
Livestock transport welfare is one of the most studied and policy-relevant areas of applied animal welfare science. The evidence demonstrates clearly that journey duration, thermal conditions, space allowance, and water access all significantly affect welfare outcomes. Current EU regulations, while among the most protective globally, still permit journeys of sufficient length to cause measurable welfare harm. The most welfare-positive solution is reducing transport distances through local processing infrastructure, but journey management improvements including strict time limits, mandatory rest stops with water, and vehicle standards are achievable within the current transport system and would benefit hundreds of millions of animals annually.