The duration of livestock transport is directly correlated with welfare harm, with evidence strongly supporting shorter maximum journey times in regulation and practice.
Transport duration is one of the most tractable welfare variables in livestock production — it is a regulatory choice, not a biological necessity. The evidence that longer journeys cause greater welfare harm is robust and has been used to justify restrictions, but maximum permitted journey times remain excessive in most jurisdictions. The strongest welfare position is investment in local slaughter infrastructure that eliminates the need for long-distance transport while supporting rural economies and food security.