Livestock transport exposes animals to multiple simultaneous welfare challenges. Evidence-based improvements to transport practice and regulation can dramatically reduce suffering.
Livestock transport is one of the highest-risk welfare events in the farm animal life cycle. The simultaneous imposition of multiple stressors — social disruption from mixing, motion sickness, environmental extremes, inability to rest normally, food and water deprivation — causes measurable physiological stress responses in all transported species. Birds are particularly vulnerable to heat stress and crushing during transport. The welfare case for reducing journey lengths, improving vehicle standards, and training transport operators is strong and supported by extensive research. Long-distance live export raises additional welfare concerns: journeys of days to weeks expose animals to cumulative stress far exceeding the evidence base for acceptable welfare impact. The logical conclusion of welfare-centered transport policy is slaughter at or near the point of production with chilled product trade rather than live animal movement over long distances.