Farm Animal Welfare

Cattle Welfare and Long-distance Transport: Science

Long-distance live export of cattle causes significant welfare compromise through exhaustion, dehydration, disease and thermal stress. Scientific evidence drives campaigns for distance limits.

Key Facts

EU regulations limit journey times but long-distance exports to non-EU countries can take weeks
Mortality rates in long-distance live export exceed those for comparable slaughter-and-chill transport
Stress biomarkers remain elevated for 24 hours or more after long transport events
Journey fitness assessment at loading prevents transport of compromised animals
Replace live export with carcass trade is the primary policy recommendation from welfare scientists

Welfare Considerations

Long-distance live export causes unavoidable welfare compromise and is an area where policy change could prevent enormous suffering for large numbers of cattle. The scientific case for distance limits is robust.

What You Can Do

Support campaign for an end to long-distance live animal export from the UK
Choose beef from supply chains that avoid live export
Advocate for mandatory journey logs and welfare monitoring in all cattle transport