Long-distance transport of live animals for slaughter or breeding is one of the most severe welfare challenges in the food system, causing suffering through exhaustion, dehydration, and injury.
Long-distance livestock transport represents some of the most intense suffering in modern animal agriculture. Animals confined in overcrowded vehicles or ships for days or weeks without adequate food, water, rest, or veterinary care experience a cumulative burden of suffering that can include exhaustion, dehydration, injury from falling, and death from heat stress or trampling. The live export trade by sea is particularly concerning — ship mortality events involving thousands of animals have been documented, and conditions on vessels often fall far below land transport standards. Animal welfare organizations have campaigned for replacing live animal export with chilled or frozen meat trade, which achieves the same economic purpose without the welfare costs. Some countries including New Zealand have banned live sheep export. Shorter transport duration standards, mandatory rest periods, and space requirements are minimum interventions.