Why do some animals go long distances for slaughter?
The transport of livestock in North America is influenced by many factors. The economic cost of transporting animals (which tend to be lower than transporting feed), and geographical differences in feed and forage availability and prices, as well as the development and location of feedlots and slaughterhouses, largely determine where animals will be transported and at what stage of production. Live animal movements across the national boundaries between the United States and Canada and the United States and Mexico is normal practice as animals move to pastures, feed lots, or to more available slaughter facilities. Due to the large size of the country and its high level of integration with the United States’ beef and pork industries, long distance transport of livestock for fattening and slaughter is a significant component of Canada’s livestock industry. The export of Canadian livestock to the United States for further fattening and slaughter has historically been economically advantag
