Farm Animals

Animal Transport Rest Stop Standards

Long-distance animal transport causes suffering from heat, dehydration, and exhaustion without mandatory rest stop requirements.

Key Facts

EU regulations require rest stops every 14 hours for most livestock
US regulations allow up to 28 hours without rest, feed, or water
Transport mortality rates are significantly higher in hot weather
Animals lose 3-5% of body weight during typical transport journeys
Sick and injured animals are frequently transported in violation of regulations

Welfare Considerations

Transport stress is cumulative and severely compromises animal welfare over long journeys. Access to feed, water, and rest dramatically reduces stress hormones, injury rates, and mortality. Shorter maximum journey times and mandatory rest stops represent achievable welfare improvements that industry frequently resists.

What You Can Do

Advocate for stricter transport welfare regulations in your country
Support maximum journey time reduction campaigns
Buy locally sourced animal products to reduce transport distances
Report suspected welfare violations in animal transport
Support organizations monitoring livestock transport compliance