Sheep transport welfare has improved through post-Brexit regulations but key challenges remain around vehicle standards, journey duration and lambs transported at an early age.
Sheep are among the most stressed livestock during transport — their flight response and unfamiliarity with vehicle environments results in sustained cortisol elevation throughout journeys. Mixing unfamiliar animals during transport increases aggression and injury. The most significant welfare improvement would come from reducing live transport distances by investing in local abattoir infrastructure. Consumer preference for locally slaughtered and processed sheep products can drive this structural change.