Live export of cattle for slaughter involves voyages of days to weeks in conditions that welfare science consistently identifies as causing significant suffering, prompting bans in several jurisdictions.
Live export welfare problems are well-documented across decades of investigation and official reporting, yet the practice continues in major exporting countries due to commercial interests in destination country live slaughter markets. The welfare compromise involves prolonged confinement in crowded conditions, inability to express normal behavior, thermal stress particularly in equatorial crossings, respiratory disease facilitated by stress and close contact, and destination country slaughter conditions often below exporting country standards. The welfare-based case for replacing live export with chilled and frozen meat trade is strong and has been accepted in policy terms by several jurisdictions.