Livestock transport is one of the most welfare-significant events in the lives of farmed animals. Improving transport conditions and reducing journey times are high-impact welfare interventions.
Livestock transport causes significant, predictable suffering that could be substantially reduced through shorter journey limits, better vehicle standards, and enforcement. Long sea voyages in particular expose animals to extreme crowding, disease, heat, injury, and death rates far exceeding land transport. Slaughter closer to origin and export of chilled meat rather than live animals eliminates the most severe transport welfare problems while maintaining economic activity. Short journeys with well-designed vehicles and trained drivers represent best practice. Consumer and political pressure has driven improvements in some regions while others lag significantly.