Sheep Transport Welfare and Long-Distance Trade

Sheep transport, including long-distance live export, subjects animals to significant welfare harms from stress, exhaustion, dehydration and injury during journeys.

Key Facts

UK sheep are transported for breeding, fattening and slaughter with journey durations up to 8 hours under UK post-Brexit rules
Long-distance sheep transport within the EU still permits 24+ hour journeys with limited welfare monitoring
Sheep welfare during transport deteriorates significantly after 8 hours without food, water or rest
UK live sheep exports for slaughter to EU have been limited post-Brexit, improving welfare for exported animals
Mortality rates during sheep transport average 0.05% but individual farm events can see much higher rates

Welfare Considerations

Sheep transport combines stressors that accumulate over journey time: social disruption from mixing unfamiliar animals, noise and vibration, food and water deprivation, temperature extremes, and the constant physical challenge of maintaining balance in a moving vehicle. While UK post-Brexit rules impose 8-hour journey limits for most sheep, this still permits significant welfare stress that accumulates over the journey. Longer journeys permitted within the EU for breeding sheep involve welfare costs that are difficult to justify. Moving toward carcass trade rather than live animal trade for slaughter, and supporting local slaughter infrastructure, are the most welfare-positive system changes available.

What You Can Do

Support an end to live sheep export for slaughter and the development of local slaughter alternatives
Choose lamb from farms slaughtering locally rather than transporting animals long distances
Advocate for welfare monitoring to be required on all sheep transport vehicles exceeding 4 hours
Support the development of mobile slaughter units that eliminate transport to slaughter entirely