Pre-journey fitness assessment for farm animals is a legal requirement in many jurisdictions and a critical welfare protection preventing suffering during transport of unfit animals.
Transport of unfit farm animals causes severe welfare harm. A lame cow who cannot maintain her footing during a vehicle journey suffers from falls, trampling, and the inability to access feed and water. An animal giving birth during transport delivers in a vehicle with no appropriate care, potentially causing death of both mother and offspring. The financial pressure to transport animals despite unfitness — because they cannot be sold at a local market in condition — creates a situation where welfare law provides protection only if enforcement is adequate. Systemic welfare protection requires both clear legal standards and their effective enforcement.