Long-distance transport of live cattle — including international exports spanning days — causes severe welfare harms from exhaustion, injury, dehydration, and disease that can be substantially reduced through improved regulation.
Long-distance live cattle transport represents one of the largest-scale animal welfare failures in modern agricultural systems. Cattle transported for days or weeks experience cumulative suffering from exhaustion, dehydration, social disruption, and injury. The inability to lie down for extended periods, unfamiliar environments, extreme temperatures, and rough handling at loading and unloading points compound the welfare burden. Deaths during transit, while statistically a small percentage, represent thousands of animals dying in distress annually. The primary welfare solution is replacing live animal exports with chilled and frozen meat trade — achieving economic objectives without the welfare costs of live transport. Consumer and political pressure has driven significant regulatory reform in recent years.