Live cattle are exported by sea for weeks across international routes, with mortality events and chronic stress highlighting serious welfare concerns in this largely unregulated trade.
Live sea export of cattle exposes animals to weeks of confinement on ships in conditions far removed from their natural environment. Overcrowding, heat buildup in lower decks, exposure to pathogens from pooled waste, and social disruption combine to create conditions that predictably compromise welfare. On-board veterinary resources are minimal relative to the scale of animal health challenges. Alternative models focusing on chilled or frozen meat export achieve the same economic outcomes without subjecting live animals to prolonged suffering.