Reducing the maximum duration of live animal transport is one of the most impactful welfare policy changes available, reducing suffering during one of the most welfare-compromising aspects of animal agriculture.
The duration of live animal transport has welfare impacts that accumulate over the entire journey: stress from social disruption, noise and vibration; dehydration and feed deprivation; temperature extremes; and the risk of injury from movement. Shorter journeys reduce all of these exposures proportionally. The UK post-Brexit 8-hour rule represents progress but still permits significant welfare harms over that period. Further reducing journey times, investing in local abattoir infrastructure, and moving to a carcass-trade model (transporting meat rather than live animals) would achieve the greatest welfare gains. Live export for slaughter to non-EU countries with lower welfare standards is particularly concerning.