The long-distance live export of farm animals causes documented welfare suffering from journey stress, exhaustion, injury, and temperature extremes, and has been a focus of sustained welfare reform campaigns.
Live animal export for slaughter and fattening causes welfare harm that is proportional to journey length and conditions. Long road journeys cause exhaustion, dehydration, and injury from crowding. Mixing unfamiliar animals triggers aggression. Temperature regulation in vehicles is inadequate for extreme weather. Animals unloaded into foreign facilities may face welfare conditions lower than those in their country of origin. The UK ban was a landmark welfare reform, but live export continues from many EU countries and globally. Continued advocacy for welfare-in-transit regulations and destination country welfare standards matters for the many millions of animals still transported internationally.