Animal Rights, an animal welfare organization, has indicated that the number of chickens dying during transport to slaughterhouses in the Netherlands remains a significant concern. According to their recent report, approximately 458,500 chickens died during transit in 2025. This follows a similar report five years prior, in 2020, when the number stood at around 575,000.
Despite the slight reduction in mortality figures between 2020 and 2025, Animal Rights asserts that there has been little fundamental improvement in the conditions or protocols governing animal transport. The organization initially raised alarms about this issue five years ago, suggesting that the current situation reflects a lack of effective change.
For freight forwarders and logistics professionals involved in the transport of live animals, this ongoing issue underscores potential reputational risks and the need for stringent adherence to animal welfare regulations. While this specific report focuses on chickens, it highlights broader concerns regarding the ethical and practical challenges of live animal transport. Future regulatory scrutiny or public pressure could lead to stricter transport requirements, potentially impacting routing, vehicle specifications, and operational costs for carriers and forwarders in this niche sector.
