Long-distance transport of live cattle causes significant welfare harm through exhaustion, dehydration, injury, and thermal stress, with evidence strongly supporting the replacement of live export with carcass trade.
Long-distance cattle transport causes cumulative welfare harm from multiple simultaneous stressors: the novel environment of the vehicle, social disruption, reduced access to feed and water, temperature extremes, and physical injury from movement and falls. Journey fatigue reduces immune function and predisposes transported cattle to respiratory disease on arrival. The welfare harm of live export is particularly severe, with sea voyages of weeks exposing cattle to prolonged suffering with limited veterinary access. Replacing live export with chilled or frozen carcass trade eliminates transport welfare impacts entirely for destination markets.