The UK banned live exports of farm animals for slaughter after Brexit in 2024, removing a significant welfare concern. However, live poultry exports for breeding continue, with welfare implications for long-distance transport of birds.
Live poultry transported for breeding purposes face the same welfare hazards as any live bird transport: inadequate ventilation, extreme temperature variation, dehydration, and crowding. Long-distance transport of breeding birds carries significant mortality risk. The UK slaughter export ban represents a meaningful welfare improvement for cattle, sheep, and pigs, but creates the need for ongoing vigilance about permitted live transport categories.