Transporting pigs to slaughter is one of the most welfare-significant events in their lives, involving unfamiliar environments, motion sickness, social stress, and temperature extremes that require careful management.
Pig transport welfare is determined by interactions between the animal, the vehicle environment, the journey, and the people involved at each stage. Pigs experience the unfamiliarity of loading ramps, truck floors, and vehicle motion as genuinely stressful; cortisol elevations during loading can be three to five times baseline. Social stress from mixing unfamiliar animals causes fighting that peaks in the first 30-60 minutes and results in injuries, skin lesions, and fatigue. Temperature management is critical — pigs are susceptible to heat stress at temperatures above 25 degrees Celsius, and poorly ventilated vehicles in summer result in rapidly escalating temperatures that cause heat stroke and death. Skilled, calm stockperson handling during loading significantly reduces stress; rough handling, electric goads, and shouting amplify fear responses. Short-journey slaughter, where animals are transported no further than necessary, represents the most direct welfare improvement available. Consumer preference for locally produced meat from short supply chains creates market incentives for producers to reduce journey lengths.