Transporting animals among farms, to the slaughterhouse or exporting abroad can be one of the most terrifying moments in an animal’s life. It can significantly impact their physiological and mental health and have long-lasting effects (if they are not destined to be killed in an abattoir). Each individual packed into transporters and trailers will face their own arduous experience, but similarities exist, especially within species.

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The transportation of pigs

Pigs are highly intelligent, sentient animals who experience a range of emotions. During the loading process, pigs are loaded with unfamiliar animals, which can lead to fear, aggression, and injuries. Tools such as electric prods cause substantial distress and pain to pigs, adding to other welfare concerns, including the length of the journey, extreme weather conditions, thermal stress, and fatigue. Injury, lameness and death are frequent occurrences during transport.

The transportation of cows

Transport severely impacts cows, especially during loading and unloading. Having been reared in unfavourable conditions on farms, many cows are flighty and fearful of both people and change. They must be close to unfamiliar workers, are susceptible to thermal stress, and short and long journeys increase their stress hormones and heart rates. They are significantly impacted by everyday, standard transport, which is a substantial ethical concern.

The transportation of chickens, ducks, turkeys and other farmed birds

Transportation critically impacts farmed birds’ well-being. The vast majority of birds are made up of broiler chickens and end-of-lay hens, both of whom have poor body conditions before loading. Commonly grabbed by their legs or collected by a chicken harvester, these fragile animals suffer leg and wing fractures, severe bruising, scratching, muscular damage, and fatalities. With tens of thousands of birds dying during transport each year in the UK, it is vital that this issue is tackled and that animals are protected.

The transportation of sheep and lambs

Sheep and lambs face the same unethical horrors during transport; they are highly sensitive and intelligent animals who become extremely distressed. They are confronted with injuries, dehydration, fatigue, elevated heart rates, and high levels of stress hormones as they are loaded and unloaded at farms and slaughterhouses. Sheep, in particular, face long-term mental impacts after distressing journeys.

We must stop the trucks in their tracks. Our latest commissioned report, written by Dr Helen Lambert, outlines in detail the impacts of transportation on animals and highlights the critical need for us to end animal agriculture and prevent animals from suffering during transport and export. The only logical step forward is to implement a plant-based food system, one that is kind, just and sustainable for all.

As always,

For the animals.