The Long and Cruel Journey of Animals in Mexico

For the first time, Animal Equality has investigated the live transport of animals in Mexico. The images captured by undercover investigators were obtained between 2016 and 2018, showing the inhumane conditions in which pigs, chickens and cows are transported to farms and slaughterhouses.

Among the findings were serious violations of the Official Mexican Standard that regulates the transport of animals. These guidelines are meant to reduce the suffering of animals. But as Animal Equality investigators found, these mandates are rarely enforced and animals suffer abuse and cruelty.

The Truth About Animal Transport

During transportation, animals like cows, pigs and chickens are exposed to major stressors. They are separated from the group of animals and the environment they know. They face mistreatment by workers and are surrounded by loud noises, possible road accidents, hunger, thirst and extreme weather conditions. 

Although prohibited by the Official Mexican Standard, sick and injured animals also face these circumstances. The long journey only worsens their conditions.

Animal Equality investigators documented the following:

• Workers walk over animal bodies. They kick and hit them to get them to move.
• Animals are overcrowded onto the trucks and are unable to move.
• Animals are forced to stand in their feces and urine, sometimes slipping on their own waste.
• The trucks were found without roofs to protect animals from the sun, rain or hail.
• Workers force the animals to jump out of vehicles without ramps during unloading. Many animals slip and fall off the trucks.
• They transport injured or wounded animals. It is incompatible with their welfare and with the provisions of the Official Mexican Standard.

I am sure most of us have come across trucks transporting animals on the road. Sometimes what we see is so overwhelming that we turn our eyes away and avoid facing the reality of meat consumption. Thanks to this investigation, we can inform ourselves and act in the animals’ favor.

-Dulce Ramírez, Vice President of Animal Equality, Latin America

Animal Transports in the US

Cruelty during live transports is happening around the world. Nearly 160 million pigs, lambs, cows and other animals are transported to slaughterhouses every day.

In the United States, animals are granted only one protection during transport. The 28-hour law requires trucks transporting animals to stop every 28 hours to relieve the animals. Unfortunately, this law is rarely enforced resulting in nearly 5 million chickens, cows and pigs dying before reaching the slaughterhouse. 

How You Can Help:

Animals that are raised and killed for consumption, such as cows, pigs, chickens, and hens, are sentient beings. They are aware of their surroundings and can feel pain, hunger, and thirst, as well as experience fear, anxiety and suffering.

Despite this, they are treated without care during their breeding, transport and slaughter, as Animal Equality has documented through over 820 investigations around the world.

Animal Equality will continue fighting to create laws that eradicate acts of cruelty. At the same time, consumers can also help animals. We have the power to make changes to our diet to be more compassionate towards animals like pigs, cows and chickens.

Please consider leaving animals off your plate. If there is no demand to consume meat, eggs or milk, there will be no need to put animals through these cruel journeys. Visit Love Veg to find hundreds of recipes and tips and go plant-based today.