The long-distance transport of beef cattle for finishing or slaughter is a significant welfare challenge requiring strict regulation and enforcement.
Long-distance cattle transport causes cumulative welfare compromise through physical exertion, dehydration, social disruption, and unfamiliar environments. The stress response to transport predisposes cattle to respiratory disease (shipping fever), particularly when multiple stressors - mixing, extreme temperatures, poor ventilation - coincide. The welfare impact increases with journey length, making 8-hour limits inadequate for some journeys that exceed this under regulatory allowances. Post-transport recovery requires 48-72 hours of rest and access to feed and water before cattle can be considered fully recovered. The UK ban on live exports for slaughter or fattening represents a significant welfare improvement by eliminating the longest and most stressful journeys.