Long-Distance Livestock Transport Welfare

Millions of farm animals are transported thousands of miles annually under conditions that cause significant stress, injury, and mortality.

Key Facts

The EU alone exports over 1.6 billion live animals annually, many on journeys exceeding 8 hours
Heat stress, dehydration, and trampling are leading causes of transport mortality
EU regulations allow cattle journeys of up to 29 hours without mandatory rest stops
Stunning and slaughtering at origin followed by chilled meat transport is a welfare-superior alternative
Over 80 animal welfare organizations have called for an EU ban on live exports for slaughter

Welfare Considerations

Long-distance live animal transport exposes farm animals to a cascade of welfare insults: loading stress, motion sickness, unfamiliar social groups, temperature extremes, dehydration, and injury from crowding. The animals that arrive dead or severely injured represent only the visible tip of systemic suffering across entire transport journeys. Transitioning from live animal trade to trade in chilled or frozen meat products would eliminate most of these welfare costs while maintaining economic activity in the supply chain.

What You Can Do

Support campaigns for a ban on live animal export for slaughter in your jurisdiction
Contact your elected representatives to support slaughter-at-origin policies
Choose meat products that are slaughtered locally to minimize transport welfare costs
Donate to organizations monitoring and documenting live animal transport conditions