The transport of pigs from farm to slaughter is associated with significant welfare risks including heat stress, mixing aggression, and loading injuries.
Pig transport is a high-risk welfare event. Loading and unloading cause acute stress; falls and injuries on ramps are common. Mixing of unfamiliar pigs causes sustained aggression throughout the journey. Heat is a primary risk — pigs are vulnerable to hyperthermia and deaths during transport are not uncommon in summer. Longer journeys allow these stresses to accumulate. Evidence supports reducing journey times, improving vehicle design with better ventilation, maintaining social groups during transport, and using lower-stress handling techniques. Regional slaughter facilities that reduce journey times represent a structural solution that benefits both animal welfare and product quality.