Transport mode significantly affects cattle welfare outcomes, with rail transport offering potential welfare advantages over road that are underutilized in most countries.
Transport mode is an underexplored welfare variable for cattle. Rail transport has physiological advantages including lower vibration and more predictable motion that reduce stress during long journeys. However, rail infrastructure for livestock has declined across Europe and North America, making road transport dominant by default. The welfare case for investing in rail livestock transport infrastructure - where economically viable - is supported by comparative physiology data. For the longest road journeys, rest stops and enhanced vehicle standards are important welfare mitigations.