Live cattle export involves prolonged journeys causing heat stress, dehydration, and injury. Reform efforts focus on slaughter at origin rather than transport of live animals.
Long-distance live cattle export represents some of the worst systemic welfare failures in modern animal agriculture. Animals experience days of crowding, heat, unfamiliar smells, ship motion, feed and water restriction, and social disruption. Evidence from investigations has documented mass mortality events, heat prostration, and injuries during voyages. The economic arguments for live export over chilled meat export are weakening as refrigeration technology improves. The welfare case for ending long-distance live export is compelling and increasingly recognized in legislation.