Live export of sheep for slaughter involves long-distance transport under conditions that cause significant suffering and high mortality.
Long-distance live export subjects animals to multiple sequential welfare stressors — loading, road transport, holding, ship loading, prolonged sea voyages and unloading — each individually stressful, collectively devastating. Investigations have documented animals dying of heat stress on ships in their thousands, injured animals unable to reach food and water, and mass deaths from disease. The alternative — chilled meat export — delivers equivalent or superior economic outcomes without the welfare costs. The phasing out of live export for slaughter represents an achievable and major welfare improvement.