Transport is one of the most welfare-compromising events in cattle production, with multiple stressors acting simultaneously to cause acute suffering that is reducible through improved standards and practices.
Cattle transport involves simultaneous exposure to multiple welfare insults: novel environments, loss of social group, physical challenge of maintaining balance, temperature extremes, restricted access to food and water, and potential mixing with unfamiliar animals. Each of these stressors alone causes measurable physiological and behavioural stress responses; their combination represents significant cumulative welfare harm. The welfare case for reducing journey times, improving vehicle standards, and developing abattoir capacity close to production regions is compelling and supported by strong evidence.