Long distance transport of animals is happening for economic reasons only.

Intensive farm animal production has led to a specialisation in breeding and fattening farms, resulting in long distance transports of poultry, pigs, cattle, sheep and goats from the breeding farm to the fattening farm and from there to the slaughterhouse. The centralisation of slaughterhouses and the aim to minimise production costs have led to increasing distances in transports of animals send for slaughter as well. 

For example, e.g. cattle are slaughtered in abattoirs where slaughter is cheapest and not where they originate from. Companies earn good money with the trade of live animals. 

Every year, an estimated 540 million chickens, 35 million sheep and goats, 23 million beef cattle and dairy cows, 6 million pigs, and 20,000 thousand buffalos are transported within Australia on land, mostly via long-distance freight trucks and trailers (CSIRO, 2017).

Every transport means fear and stress to the animals, as they are in cramped, stuffy conditions. The longer the journey the more likely it is that animals suffer. Particularly on long distance transports animals suffer, many of them die due to heat and water deprivation. Particularly poultry, pigs and unweaned animals are susceptible when it comes to dying on transports.

The following grievances are regularly taking place during long distance live animal transports on the road:

• The maximum loading density is exceeded and does not allow animals to rest in a normal position.
• Insufficient height inside vehicles, especially during the transport of cattle in double-decker truck.
• Unsuitable loading ramps (e.g. too steep, slippery).
• Transport vehicles lacking suitable equipment for feeding and watering (esp. when transporting young, un-weaned animals).
• Transport of animals being unfit for transport (sick animals and those with broken limbs), transport of highly pregnant animals "heifers", and transport of very young animals like day-old chicks and bobby calves.
• Fights between animals originating from different stables within the vehicles.
• Rough handling of animals during loading and unloading, leading to fear and serious injuries of the animals.
• Poorly trained or inexperienced staff, badly paid drivers, reckless driving.
• Temperature limits within the vehicle exceeding acceptable temperature (> 30°C and < 5°C), the animals suffer from heat and cold, numerous animals die of heatstroke or freeze to death.
• Empty or frozen water supply leads to severe suffering and deaths.

Accidents on the road happen regularly every year with truck crashes and rollovers. There is no official statistics about this, but accidents that lead to the death of thousands of animals are documented by NGO's and hit the news every year. Several analysis and whistleblowers have estimated up to millions of farmed animals die on roads in the UK and USA each year.

FOUR PAWS is advocating for community-based, restorative and sustainable agricultural practices that promote local farming, rearing and slaughter. Decentralisation of farms and locating abattoirs and slaughterhouses within a short distance from the farms is an important aspect to achieve an end of long-distance transports.

Anyone who observes animals who are injured or e.g. appear apathetic or are licking the bars of the vehicle should inform the police immediately. These are signs of thirst and dehydration. Due to the lack of water, numerous animals die in agony in animal transporters time and again. It is important that you note the number plate and take a picture if possible. If the vehicle stands still on a parking place or else it is best to stay at the vehicle until the police arrives. If you are driving the car, it is important to tell the police where you are on the street so that the police can send a police car to this place, to either lead the truck out of the traffic jam or stop it in case the animals look dehydrated. The animals can then be watered and may be cooled by water from the fire brigade.