Live sheep export — shipping sheep thousands of miles by sea for slaughter abroad — causes extreme welfare harms and has become one of the most contested practices in international animal trade.
Live sheep export causes welfare harms at every stage. Loading stress, transport to port, multi-week ocean voyages in high stocking densities with limited feed and water, and slaughter in destination countries without welfare standards all contribute to cumulative suffering. Heat stress during hot-season voyages causes respiratory distress, hyperthermia, and death. Salmonellosis and inanition kill additional animals. The crowding and novelty of the ship environment cause chronic stress throughout the voyage. Australia's 2024 ban on live sheep export to the Middle East, following decades of advocacy, demonstrates that sustained welfare campaigning can achieve major policy changes that reduce suffering at scale.