Farm Animal Welfare

Livestock Transport Long-Distance Welfare

Millions of live animals are transported across international borders, with journeys sometimes exceeding 24-48 hours causing significant suffering from heat, crowding, and deprivation.

Key Facts

Over 2 billion farmed animals are transported internationally each year
EU regulations limit transport to 8 hours for most animals without rest
Some live export journeys exceed 100+ hours under poor conditions
Heat stress during transport causes mortality and severe suffering
Replacing live export with meat trade would dramatically reduce welfare impacts

Welfare Considerations

Long-distance live transport causes cumulative suffering — thirst, hunger, heat stress, exhaustion, trauma from falls, and immune suppression. Animals transported in excess of welfare time limits show measurable physiological deterioration. International live export in particular often moves animals beyond the reach of destination welfare oversight.

What You Can Do

Support campaigns to replace live export with chilled meat trade
Choose products from animals transported under certified welfare standards
Advocate for stricter EU and national transport regulations
Support investigations and reporting on live export conditions
Reduce consumption of red meat from import-dependent supply chains