Millions of farm animals die during transport each year, representing both a welfare crisis and an economic loss that better regulation could prevent.
Transport mortality in livestock is a visible and measurable welfare failure that is also directly economically costly to producers. The animals that die in transit represent the extreme end of a welfare gradient — millions more survive but arrive in compromised condition from heat stress, cold stress, dehydration, and injury. Reducing transport mortality requires a combination of regulatory standards for journey times and conditions, driver training, infrastructure investment in proper loading and unloading facilities, and enhanced monitoring. The economic case for these investments is strong, making transport welfare one of the easiest welfare arguments to make to the industry.