Live animal transport is one of the most controversial practices in industrial farming. Each year, millions of animals—including unweaned calves, lambs, and other young livestock—are shipped across borders for slaughter or further fattening. The animals often endure days of travel without adequate food, water, or rest, confined in cramped and unsanitary conditions that expose them to heat stress, injury, disease, and even death.

Unweaned calves are especially vulnerable. Taken from their mothers far too young, they are forced to endure long voyages without proper nutrition, as their fragile digestive systems cannot process solid food. Their only real source of nourishment is milk or milk substitute, which is rarely provided in sufficient quantity—or at all—during transport.

Resuming the transport of these animals is not only inhumane, it is completely unnecessary in today’s food system. There are more humane and sustainable alternatives that do not rely on sending living beings across the sea simply to meet market demands in other countries.

Why Brittany Ferries’ U-Turn Matters

Brittany Ferries’ decision to re-enter the live export industry is especially disappointing given their previous leadership on this issue. Their decades-long refusal to transport live animals made them a model for ethical shipping, and their policy was frequently cited by campaigners as proof that ferry companies could remain profitable without enabling cruelty.

So what changed?

According to reports, pressure from agricultural interests and shifts in European trade dynamics may have played a role. But none of these factors justify putting animal welfare last.

By choosing to allow live animal transport once again, Brittany Ferries is now complicit in a supply chain of suffering—supporting an industry that has been widely condemned by veterinary professionals, animal welfare organizations, and compassionate citizens alike.

You can learn more about the wider issues surrounding this practice and join the growing movement for change by visiting our Live Animal Transport section, where we explore the global scope of the problem, share investigative reports, and offer ways to take action.

The Public Deserves Better – And So Do the Animals

At a time when public awareness around animal welfare is higher than ever, businesses have a moral responsibility to make compassionate choices—especially when those choices involve sentient beings.

The tide of public opinion is shifting, and more people are calling on companies to uphold ethical standards in every aspect of their operations. The European Union is currently reviewing its animal welfare laws, and there’s hope that stricter regulations on live transport could soon be in place. But until those protections are enshrined in law, companies like Brittany Ferries must be held accountable by the people they serve.

Animal advocates, consumers, and compassionate citizens across Europe are urging Brittany Ferries to reverse this damaging decision and return to its long-held position against live animal export. Protests, petitions, and social media campaigns are gaining momentum as people demand a return to values rooted in compassion, sustainability, and responsibility.