by Madison Longenecker

Industrial animal agriculture is a sprawling industry that creates a range of issues pertaining to animal welfare, public health and the environment. Usually, these issues are exacerbated on factory farms across the world in the form of animal abuse, pollution and the spread of disease.

But there is another aspect of this mega-business that often doesn’t get the same attention, at least in the United States, even though it inflicts cruelty and damage just like factory farms do. Live animal exports.

What is live animal export?

Live animal exports, commonly known as live exports, involve the commercial transfer of live animals, typically farmed animals such as cows, sheep, or chickens, across international borders. This often entails animals boarding large ships for lengthy journeys across oceans and seas.

These animals are primarily transported to meet the global demand for meat, where they are ultimately slaughtered, but can be transported for other purposes like breeding. According to The Guardian, approximately 5 million animals are exported live each day to fulfill this demand.

Why should live export be banned?

Animals endure horrible conditions when being transported across the sea. The treks usually take days on end and animals often are not fed. Heat in the summer and rough waters in the winter can create an uncomfortable and sometimes life-threatening environment. The animals barely have any room to move around, with some regulations requiring a minimum above-head clearance of only 2 inches.

Usually, there is inadequate or non-existent vet care for any animals that get sick. They lose weight. They die of diseases. And sometimes, like in the case of the Queen Hind, the ships can fully capsize, leaving the helpless animals aboard to drown. Unfortunately, cases like this are not unique. 

Not to mention the environmental impact. Transporting these animals long distances creates massive amounts of carbon emissions that contribute to climate change.

What countries have banned live animal export?

Currently, only a few countries have banned live exports in some capacity.

• New Zealand banned live exports of cows, sheep, deer and goats in April 2023.
• Luxembourg banned live exports for slaughter to regions outside of the European Union in March 2022.
• Germany announced in October 2023 that it would also ban trade to countries outside of the EU, with Federal Minister Cem Özdemir saying, “We can no longer watch as animals suffer or die in agony during long transports.”
• Australia has committed to banning the export of sheep by May 2028
• In Brazil, the federal court also ruled last year that no live animals should be exported from the country’s ports.

Compassion in World Farming’s work to ban live exports

Compassion in World Farming has been campaigning to ban live exports since the 70s in the United Kingdom and the EU. Just this week, after 50 years of campaigning, a bill to ban live exports from Britain has passed in Parliament.

In the U.S., CIWF has exposed the live export of calves from Hawai'i to the mainland in "cowtainers" in a new investigation featured in The New York Times. We have written a letter to Gov. Green urging him to ban this unethical and unsustainable trade. 

How you can help

You can help put an end to animals suffering from live exports. Sign our petition now to support a ban on shipping farmed animals overseas for profit.

Madison Longenecker works toward developing Compassion USA’s reputation as the leading authority on farmed animal welfare through securing media coverage on Compassion’s missions, annual reports, and campaigns, plus engaging supporters through social media. In her past roles, she has worked as a communications specialist, as an assignment editor in broadcast television in Pittsburgh and as an investigative reporter for her college newspaper. Her experience has provided her with a keen media sense and passion for storytelling. Madison earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Public Relations with an English minor from the Indiana University of Pennsylvania.