Farmed Pig Transport Distance and Welfare Research

Research consistently shows that transport distance and duration are major determinants of pig welfare outcomes, with longer journeys causing greater cumulative harm.

Key Facts

Studies show welfare indicators deteriorate progressively with increasing transport duration
Pigs transported for more than 8 hours show significantly higher stress markers than those transported under 4 hours
Multiple stops for loading and unloading of different animals during journeys compound welfare harm
The EU allows pig transport for up to 24 hours with rest, water, and feed after 24 hours
Slaughter facilities located closer to farms would dramatically reduce transport welfare harm

Welfare Considerations

Transport distance welfare research provides clear evidence for a policy intervention that would meaningfully improve pig welfare: reducing maximum permitted journey times and incentivizing local slaughter capacity. The cumulative physiological stress of long transport — dehydration, hunger, exhaustion, and social disruption — is well-documented and directly proportional to journey duration. The welfare solution is not simply about journey conditions but about the fundamental question of how far animals should travel from farm to slaughter in a system genuinely committed to minimizing suffering.

What You Can Do

Support campaigns to reduce maximum pig transport times in welfare regulations
Advocate for local slaughter facility investment that reduces transport distances for pigs
Choose pork from producers who use local slaughter facilities with shorter transport distances
Support research into the specific welfare threshold journey times that should guide policy reform