Farmed Animals

Livestock Market Animal Welfare

Livestock markets and auctions are significant welfare risk points — animals experience multiple stressors simultaneously.

Key Facts

Animals at markets experience mixing, novel environments, noise, handling and feed/water deprivation
Up to 8 hours without food or water is common at many livestock markets
Injured and non-ambulatory animals are often present in markets without prompt intervention
On-farm welfare programs may not extend to the market — creating welfare gaps in the supply chain

Welfare Considerations

Livestock markets expose animals to the full range of welfare insults simultaneously: transport stress, unfamiliar environment, strange conspecifics, noise and handling by unfamiliar people. Animals arrive tired and stressed and are then subjected to further handling and holding. Market welfare standards are an often-overlooked link in the supply chain — companies with strong farm welfare programs may have little visibility into what happens at markets.

What You Can Do

Ask supermarkets and meat suppliers about their livestock market welfare standards
Support market welfare improvement initiatives
Advocate for mandatory livestock market welfare requirements including water access and emergency vet care
Support shorter supply chains that bypass markets where possible