Live animal exports move millions of cattle, sheep, and pigs across international borders under conditions that cause significant mortality and welfare harm that slaughter-before-export policies would prevent.
Long-distance live animal transport causes cumulative welfare harm from crowding, limited water and food access, temperature extremes, and prolonged movement stress. Animals transported across continents and on ships endure multi-day journeys that individual animals never recover from before slaughter. The welfare case for ending live export in favor of carcase trade is strong — slaughtering animals at or near farms eliminates transport suffering entirely. The economic barriers to transition are manageable with appropriate support for the industries that currently depend on live export income.