Transport is one of the most stressful and dangerous periods in a pig's life, causing millions of injuries and deaths annually and representing a major preventable welfare problem.
Pig transport welfare failures are enormous in scale and largely preventable. Summer heat deaths are predictable outcomes of transporting pigs in hot weather without adequate ventilation. The mixing of pigs from different social groups creates immediate aggression — pigs establish strict dominance hierarchies that force fighting when groups are combined. Loading processes using electric prods instead of patient, low-stress handling cause acute stress spikes. Journey duration limits, mandatory rest breaks, and maximum temperature rules significantly reduce transport mortality. Producer economics favor fast transport, but the welfare and productivity costs of transport stress — including damaged meat quality from muscle stress — create alignment between animal welfare and industry interests.