Livestock Transport Long Distances and Welfare

Long-distance live animal transport causes significant welfare compromise through thermal stress, exhaustion, injury, and disease, driving calls for journey time limits and improved standards.

Key Facts

The EU transports tens of millions of live animals across member states and to third countries annually.
Journey time limits under EU Regulation 1/2005 are routinely exceeded, particularly for third-country exports.
Heat stress, dehydration, and exhaustion are major welfare concerns during summer transport.
Injury rates including fractures and trampling increase significantly with journey duration.
Campaigns for a maximum 8-hour journey limit for animals going to slaughter have broad public support.

Welfare Considerations

Long-distance live animal transport is one of the most significant and contested animal welfare issues in food systems. Animals endure prolonged confinement, temperature extremes, feed and water deprivation, and social disruption. Transport to non-EU countries removes animals from welfare protections, frequently resulting in severe welfare compromise. The most effective welfare solution is a shift to a carcass and meat trade rather than live transport, which is technically and economically feasible but requires political will and industry adaptation.

What You Can Do

Support campaigns advocating for maximum 8-hour journey limits for animals destined for slaughter.
Contact your elected representatives urging stronger enforcement of transport welfare regulations.
Choose locally produced meat from animals slaughtered close to their farm of origin where possible.
Support the shift from live export to a chilled and frozen meat trade at the policy level.
Avoid purchasing meat products from countries with documented live export welfare violations.