Cattle transport regulations governing journey duration, space allowances, feed and water access, and fitness for transport have significant welfare implications for millions of cattle moved annually.
Cattle transport welfare is shaped by regulatory frameworks that vary dramatically by jurisdiction. The US 28-hour law, unenforced for much of the 20th century, provides minimal protection compared to EU standards requiring rest, water, and food at shorter intervals. The welfare costs of inadequate transport standards accumulate across millions of journeys: dehydration, thermal stress, injury from falls in overcrowded vehicles, and the immune suppression that contributes to bovine respiratory disease in receiving feedlots. Welfare-positive transport management combines appropriate fitness assessment before loading, space allowances that prevent overcrowding, and water access protocols that prevent severe dehydration.