Cattle transported long distances face fatigue, hunger, thirst, and injury; regulations on journey duration, rest stops, and vehicle standards directly affect animal welfare.
Long distance transport - especially live export by ship - represents some of the most severe welfare harms in farmed animal production. Animals that die in transit from heat, exhaustion, or injury represent only the most visible welfare failures; the majority of transported animals experience significant distress, weight loss, and immune suppression even when they survive. Minimizing journey time and improving vehicle standards are direct welfare interventions.