Transport to slaughter is one of the highest welfare-risk periods for pigs, with loading, journey, lairage and unloading each representing potential harm.
Pigs loaded by inexperienced stockpeople using excessive force suffer higher injury rates and higher cortisol levels throughout the journey. Heat stress in summer transport vehicles without adequate ventilation causes severe distress and death. Mixing unfamiliar pigs in lairage triggers fighting resulting in injury and fear. Well-designed loading facilities, trained stockpeople, adequate vehicle ventilation and separate lairage pens for unknown groups substantially reduce the welfare burden of the transport-to-slaughter process.