Millions of pigs are transported to slaughter each year, experiencing loading stress, crowding, temperature fluctuation, and journey duration welfare challenges. EU and national standards set minimum requirements, but enforcement varies.
Pig transport welfare encompasses the loading, journey, and unloading phases — each with distinct welfare challenges. Loading is frequently the most distressing event — unfamiliar surfaces, noise, mixing with strangers, and handling by hurried workers cause acute fear and injury. Training loading staff in low-stress handling techniques and reducing use of electric prods significantly reduces loading stress. Journey duration is a welfare variable — pigs become progressively stressed with time, and journey times beyond 4 hours show cumulative cortisol elevation. Temperature management in transport vehicles is critical — pigs cannot sweat and are highly susceptible to heat stress in inadequately ventilated vehicles. Unloading at the abattoir should be calm and low-stress — lairage conditions and stunning procedures are closely coupled with transport welfare. Increasing the number of abattoirs to reduce journey distances is a structural welfare improvement. Mobile slaughter units that eliminate transport entirely are available for some production contexts.