The transport of farm animals to slaughter is a major welfare event affecting millions of animals annually, with journey duration, vehicle conditions, and loading density all affecting the degree of suffering caused.
Livestock transport welfare is a systemic problem that the regulatory framework has failed to adequately address. Long journey times create cumulative welfare costs from the interaction of thirst, hunger, fear, motion sickness, unfamiliar companions, physical fatigue, and temperature stress. The welfare case for maximum journey limits of 8 hours is strong, but economic interests in long-distance live animal trade have consistently blocked regulatory reform. The UK live exports ban (2024) represents a significant step, but domestic journey lengths remain inadequately restricted. Mobile slaughter units that kill animals at or near the farm of origin offer a transformative welfare improvement for some species.