Live animal transport causes significant suffering for millions of farm animals each year. Transport welfare reform is one of the most impactful policy changes available in animal agriculture.
Live animal transport welfare is a systemic problem driven by economic incentives that override animal welfare concerns. Farm animals during transport experience multiple simultaneous stressors: social disruption from mixing with unfamiliar animals, inability to rest adequately, temperature extremes, hunger and thirst in proportion to journey length, and the physical effects of vehicle motion. Mortality during transport is measurable and accepted as normal by industry. The welfare solution — slaughter near origin with chilled carcass transport — is commercially viable and practiced in some regions. Journey time limits, improved vehicle standards, and slaughter-near-origin requirements represent the regulatory pathway to meaningful improvement.