Subject: Transport

Quality of in-vehicle temperature data collected by competent authorities as part of animal welfare inspections during the long-distance transport of pigs: a Danish case study

Herskin MS, Toft-Petersen E, Krogh MA

Published in 2026

A study revealing significant heterogeneity and major gaps in the temperature data collected during long-distance transport of pigs, limiting their usefulness for assessing the pigs’ welfare. It highlights the need to standardize data collection and the associated metadata.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Go to document

Systematic mapping review of cattle welfare research during road transportation (2015–2025)

Lily Edwards-Callaway, Davida Rimm-Kaufman, Huey Yi Loh

Published in 2026

A systematic review showing that research on cattle welfare during road transport focuses primarily on transport duration or distance, while other factors, such as environmental conditions and stocking density, remain understudied.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Bovines

Go to document

Live bovine animal export dynamics and structural heterogeneity across European member states, 2014-2024: A cluster -based analysis

Evija Skujina, Irina Pilvere

Published in 2026

Study highlighting a sharp rise in live cattle exports from the EU between 2014 and 2024, despite a decline in the number of European cattle. It reveals stark contrasts between Member States and the unique role played by France in the European cattle sector.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Bovines

Go to document

Country Consultation on AH&W Priorities and Challenges

SCAR Animal Health & Welfare Collaborative Working Group

Published in 2026

Survey carried out for the SCAR AH&W Group, identifying Member States'  top animal health and welfare research priorities for 2025–2026 . Among priorities identified are a “One Health” approach, disease prevention, welfare indicators, livestock systems, transport, aquaculture, genomic tools, and the impacts of climate change.

Document types: Technical Paper

Animal Categories: Fish, All Animals

Go to document

Vibrations and driving conditions inside a pot-belly trailer and their effect on pig behavior during transport

Conte S, Devillers N, Crowe TG, Zhang QY, Yan X, and Faucitano L

Published in 2026

Study showing that vibrations vary in different parts of a trailer and affect the balance of transported pigs. No simple relationship between vibration levels and behaviors emerged, though, suggesting that several factors are in operation.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Porcines

Go to document

Effects of age and feeding protocols on the metabolic and physiological condition of unweaned calves during and after long-distance transport

Susanne Siegmann, Luca L. van Dijk, Niamh L. Field, Gearoid Sayers, Katie Sugrue, Cornelis G. van Reenen, Eddie A. M. Bokkers, Muireann Conneely

Published in 2026

Study on the effects of long journeys and the fasting involved on the physiological condition of young, unweaned calves. Provision of 4 L of milk before transport slightly improves their energy balance and hydration compared to 2 L, but only partially offsets the negative effects of long-distance transport.

Document Types: Scientific paper

Animal categories: Bovines

Go to document

Manual Catching and Transportation of Poultry with a Focus on Chickens and European Practices

Hettmannsperger, M.A., Ruhnke, I.

Published in 2026

Synthesis highlighting that the methods used to catch and handle poultry have a significant impact on their welfare and that more comprehensive and standardized assessment is required throughout the transport chain.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Poultry

Go to document

Exploring the relationship between whole carcass condemnations and farm animal welfare: A rapid scoping review

Christine Kuo, Emma G. Gardner, Murray Gillies, Marianne I. Parent

Published in 2026

Literature review showing that data on carcass rejection at abattoirs can serve as an indirect indicator of animal welfare, but studies remain largely European and focus primarily on poultry. Their main focus is on links between animal health status on farms and carcass rejection, whereas research on other welfare factors (diet, housing, behavior, transport) is limited.

Document Types: Scientific review

Animal categories: Bovines, Caprines, Ovines, Porcines, Poultry

Go to document

Animal Welfare Audit

Meat Institute Animal Welfare Committee and Temple Grandin

Published in 2026

Audit tool for the objective assessment of animal welfare in the meat industry during transport, holding, and slaughter

Document Types: Good practice guide

Animal categories:Cattle, Sheep, Pigs

Go to document

Meat Industry Recommended Animal Handling Guidelines: A Systematic Approach to Animal Welfare at Transport and Slaughter

Meat Institute Animal Welfare Committee and Temple Grandin

Published in 2026

Good practice guide on the transport, handling and stunning of animals in the meat industry 

Document Types: Good practice guide

Animal categories:Cattle, Sheep, Pigs

Go to document