The physiological and behavioral evidence for transport stress in pigs and what producers and policymakers can do to reduce suffering during transit.
Pig transport is one of the most welfare-significant events in commercial pork production, combining multiple simultaneous stressors including social disruption, unfamiliar environments, noise, motion, temperature extremes, and physical exertion. Each of these stressors has documented physiological costs, and their combination can be severe. The scientific evidence is clear: shorter journeys, mixing avoidance, temperature-controlled vehicles, anti-slip flooring, and trained handlers dramatically reduce transport suffering. These are technically feasible improvements that the industry has the means to implement broadly.