Long-distance transport is one of the most significant sources of suffering in livestock production, combining physical, thermal, and psychological stressors over extended periods.
Transport is inherently stressful for livestock. Even short journeys involve unfamiliar environments, motion, noise, unfamiliar smells, and social disruption. Extending this to 24+ hours, often without adequate food and water access, causes cumulative suffering that compounds with every additional hour. The welfare case for maximising local slaughter infrastructure and minimising transport distances is overwhelming — and the economic argument against it is largely one of convenience and cost optimisation rather than necessity. Political resistance to ending long-distance live animal transport comes primarily from trade interests in source and destination countries, not from welfare evidence. Consumer demand for shorter supply chains and country-of-origin labelling can create market pressure for welfare improvements.