The transport of live animals for slaughter or fattening is one of the most welfare-challenging aspects of modern animal agriculture, combining stress, exhaustion and injury over long journeys.
Transport subjects animals to a cascade of stressors: noise, vibration, unfamiliar social groups, temperature extremes, food and water deprivation, and fear. These combine to cause significant suffering, and mortality rates during transport, while low per journey, translate to thousands of deaths across the industry annually. Reducing transport distance, improving vehicle standards, and developing local slaughter infrastructure are key welfare improvements. The trade of live animals for slaughter at destination represents one of the highest-welfare-risk sectors.