Transporting pigs to slaughter is one of the most stressful events in their lives, causing fear, injury, and significant mortality if not managed properly.
Transport subjects pigs to a cascade of stressors including unfamiliar handling, mixing with strange animals, vehicle motion, temperature extremes, and food and water deprivation. Pigs that have never left their farm building encounter a sudden barrage of novel stimuli that causes extreme fear. Loading and unloading injuries occur frequently in poorly designed facilities. Stress during transport affects both welfare and meat quality - pale, soft, exudative (PSE) pork results from ante-mortem stress. Improving transport welfare through better handling, temperature management, and journey time limits protects both pigs and product quality.