Welfare science of cattle transport, covering loading stress, journey duration impacts, space allowances, and the welfare evidence for reducing transport as a component of cattle production systems.
Cattle transport welfare is one of the most visible and documented welfare problems in livestock production, with extensive scientific evidence on the harms of long journeys and poor conditions. The welfare hierarchy is clear: reducing transport is better than improving transport conditions; shorter journeys with appropriate conditions are better than long journeys with excellent conditions. The progressive movement toward local slaughter combined with meat transport — rather than live animal transport — addresses transport welfare at its root by eliminating the need for long journeys. Where transport is unavoidable, investment in low-stress handling infrastructure, appropriate journey duration limits, and vehicle welfare standards directly protects the millions of cattle transported annually.