Farm Animals

Cattle Welfare and Long-Distance Transport Welfare

Long-distance transport causes significant welfare harm to cattle, with journey time limits and rest provisions being key regulatory priorities.

Key Facts

Cattle transported for over 8 hours show significantly elevated cortisol levels
EU regulations permit journeys of up to 29 hours for adult cattle to slaughter
Dehydration begins within 24 hours without water access during transport
Injury rates increase exponentially beyond 12 hours of transport
New EU regulations proposed in 2026 would limit journeys to 9 hours for all cattle

Welfare Considerations

Long-distance transport causes preventable suffering. Journey time limits, water access, and rest provisions are achievable regulatory improvements.

What You Can Do

Advocate for EU transport regulation reform limiting journey times
Support mandatory journey reporting and monitoring requirements
Choose locally-sourced beef from farms avoiding long-distance live export