Long-distance transport causes significant suffering for farm animals. Reform campaigns focus on journey time limits, vehicle standards, and slaughter at source policies.
Livestock transport is one of the most significant sources of acute animal suffering in the food system. Even within legal limits, long journeys expose animals to prolonged stress, dehydration, injury from falls and trampling, and temperature-related distress. Welfare during transport depends on vehicle design, stocking density, driver training, journey duration, and loading and unloading practices. The most effective reform is to slaughter animals close to their farm of origin and transport meat rather than live animals. This is economically feasible in most regions and would eliminate transport as a significant welfare problem.