The live export of farm animals for slaughter involves significant welfare costs from long-distance transport. Slaughter at origin followed by chilled meat transport is the welfare-superior alternative.
Long-distance live animal export for slaughter represents one of the most welfare-intensive practices in global food trade. Animals transported for 30+ hours experience cumulative dehydration, social mixing aggression, and thermal stress in conditions that deteriorate with journey length. Third-country exports that remove animals from EU regulatory oversight expose them to conditions that would be illegal within Europe. The alternative — slaughter at origin with chilled meat transport — maintains food supply benefits without welfare cost. Australia's live sheep export ban demonstrates that major exporting countries can make this transition without prohibitive economic impact.