Live animal markets - where animals are sold and often slaughtered on-site - present significant welfare concerns while also serving important food security functions in many cultures and countries.
Live animal market welfare requires a nuanced approach that respects cultural and food security contexts while being honest about the welfare harms these markets cause. The solution varies by context: in high-income countries, transition to pre-slaughtered chilled meat is feasible with adequate cold chain infrastructure. In lower-income settings, improving conditions within existing live markets - providing water, shade, reducing stocking density, training handlers - may be the most achievable near-term welfare improvement. The public health case for live market reform, highlighted by COVID-19, creates policy momentum that animal welfare advocates can engage with productively.