'Cruel' animal transport targeted

A campaign is under way to end the transportation of millions of animals over long distances for slaughter.

The global campaign is led by Handle With Care, a coalition of leading animal welfare charities including the RSPCA and Compassion in World Farming.

It has released undercover footage, filmed over two years, of "cruel and unnecessary journeys" animals endure.

It highlights journeys of thousands of miles, including sheep transported from Australia to the Middle East.

The coalition says disease, hunger and stress during transportation are killing tens of thousands of animals a year, while many more suffer overcrowded and filthy conditions only to be slaughtered on arrival at their destination.

It wants animals taken to slaughterhouses near where they are reared.

Filthy conditions

It says horses are being trucked from Spain to Italy on journeys lasting up to 36 hours, in overcrowded conditions in which EU legislation is "routinely ignored".

It also says four million sheep a year are shipped for up to 32 days between Australia and the Middle East, with an estimated 30,000 dying en route.

The coalition also says 100,000 cattle are transported by truck from Amazon ranches to ports in Brazil each year and then sailed into the ports of Beirut in Lebanon. Mortalities are estimated at up to 10%.