Long-distance livestock transport is one of the most significant welfare challenges in animal agriculture. Journey duration, conditions, and handling practices have major impacts on animal suffering.
Transport stress begins with loading — unfamiliar handlers, novel environments, and loss of social companions cause immediate fear responses. During transit, animals face thermal stress, motion sickness, dehydration, and social disruption. Prolonged transport compounds these harms: injury rates increase, animals stop eating and drinking, and immune suppression makes them vulnerable to disease. The welfare case for limiting journey times and phasing out long-distance live exports in favor of chilled meat trade is strong and evidence-based. Major importing countries often have lower welfare standards than exporting countries, making the entire supply chain a welfare concern.