Pig Transport Mortality and Welfare

Transport mortality and pre-slaughter welfare in pigs represent significant and preventable welfare failures.

Key Facts

Transport mortality rates of 0.05-0.1% are common in commercial pig production — representing millions of deaths annually given scale
Non-ambulatory pigs that cannot walk are a major welfare concern at receiving facilities
Mixing of unfamiliar pigs during transport loading increases aggression and injury
Temperature extremes in transit — heat in summer, cold stress in winter — increase mortality and distress
Pre-slaughter lairage conditions significantly affect stress levels and welfare at slaughter

Welfare Considerations

Pig transport mortality and welfare failures represent welfare harms that are statistically small as a percentage but enormous in absolute numbers given the scale of global pig production. A 0.1% transport mortality rate across a billion pigs represents a million individual animals dying in transit — each death typically involving hours of distress before death. Non-ambulatory pigs that cannot walk are particularly difficult welfare cases — often dragged or pushed in ways that cause additional injury and suffering. Pre-slaughter conditions that reduce stress — adequate lairage, appropriate temperature, minimal mixing — improve welfare for all animals and are well-understood; implementation requires commitment and oversight.

What You Can Do

Support animal welfare certifications that include transport and pre-slaughter standards
Advocate for stronger transport welfare regulations and enforcement
Choose pork from regional supply chains that minimize transport distance and time
Donate to organizations monitoring and reporting on livestock transport welfare
Support pre-slaughter handling training programs for industry workers