Published 30/08/2013

Our new investigation into the live export trade has revealed British sheep being transported on a gruelling route from the UK to Germany.

These sheep were crammed into trucks and driven over 500 miles in the height of summer, only to be slaughtered.

The sheep were being transported for an estimated 23 hours to Germany. On their arrival they were to be kept in crowded sheds until they were slaughtered.

Our investigations team discovered sheep that were visibly stressed and suffering from coughs and swollen, sore eyes. Some were panting in the heat and the ventilation system was faulty.

The UK's main farming union (NFU) is calling upon retailers to back British farming by buying more British lamb, yet they support British sheep being transported on needlessly long journeys to be slaughtered.

Compassion's CEO Philip Lymbery says: "The NFU claims that we should eat British produce, but then supports sending sheep overseas to unknown fates. This self-contradiction should not be happening."

"Animals should be slaughtered as close as possible to the farm where they are born and reared, not transported hundreds of miles to a slaughterhouse in another EU country."

You can help end live exports from the UK

Every year, tens of thousands of calves and sheep are subjected to this awful ordeal. Let's show UK Farming Minister, David Heath, that ending live exports could be as simple as A, B, C...

1. David Heath needs to propose changes to the archaic 1847 Harbours, Docks and Piers Clauses Act to give local authorities the power to decide who uses their ports.

2. Local authorities could then, legally, refuse to accept the live export trade.

3. Thousands of animals could then be spared these long, nightmarish journeys.

Make a donation today to help launch a three-pronged attack on this cruel trade:

Compassion's Investigation Unit would like to thank KAALE for their help with our UK live export investigations.