Sheep transport is a major welfare risk event. Updated 2025 standards and improved enforcement are changing the welfare landscape for UK sheep in transit.
Sheep transport welfare risks include dehydration, heat stress, exhaustion, trauma from falls, and mixing-related aggression. Welfare assessment of transported sheep should use the Five Domains model applied at loading, during transit, and at unloading. Competency requirements for transporters are now more stringent. Journey log violations have increased enforcement action. The most welfare-positive approach is minimising transport necessity through local processing infrastructure investment.