Long-distance transport of cattle for slaughter or further fattening causes significant welfare harm through crowding, temperature stress, exhaustion, and mixing of unfamiliar animals.
Cattle transport welfare is a function of journey length, stocking density, temperature management, and the handling quality at loading and unloading. Long journeys cause cumulative stress that is not fully mitigated by rest stops. Reducing journey times by slaughtering animals closer to their farm of origin is the most effective welfare improvement — and also reduces carbon emissions from transport. Where long transport is unavoidable, certified transport operators, appropriate stocking densities, and temperature-controlled vehicles minimize but cannot eliminate welfare costs.