Transport is one of the most stressful experiences sheep face, causing fear, physical exhaustion, injury, and increased disease susceptibility with significant welfare implications.
Transport exposes sheep to a cascade of welfare insults: fear and panic during loading, novel environments and social disruption, vibration and noise, temperature extremes, and physical exhaustion. Mixing of unfamiliar sheep causes aggression. Feed and water deprivation during long journeys causes hunger and dehydration. Injuries from falls and trampling are common. The cumulative stress suppresses immune function, increasing disease risk after arrival.