Agricultural History Review, Volume 48 Part 1 (2000), pp. 85–103

Arguments about the treatment of animals and animal rights have become more and more central to political debate since the 1960s. This article looks at the 'practical' manifestation of these arguments as they emerged in relation to the campaign to halt the live transport of farm animals in 1994-5. The campaign is examined against the background of changing views of animal welfare and the movements of public opinon in 1994-5 and described through both press reports and material gathered through the organization Mass- Observation in the Spring of 1995. The paper argues that there was widespread support for the campaign and this was part of a wider, highly critical view of modern British farming. However, opposition to exports was based on traditional 'welfare' grounds rather than on newer theories of animal rights. 

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