The European farming industry has been concerned by the conditions of transport of animals for a long time. Initially, the main objective was to reduce mortality, bruising, and occurrences of lowquality meat. However, in some European countries, such as Great Britain, the public was also questioning farm animal welfare during transport. Large campaigns against poor treatment during transport have been launched in the media by animal-protection societies. One consequence of that public concern in Europe has been the adoption of several regulations by the European Commission. The initial objective of scientific input was to help industry avoid the detrimental effect of transport. It dealt mostly with the physical conditions (duration, temperature, space allowance, and stability) during, before, and after transport. The effects of these conditions on the neuroendocrine system, especially on stress hormones, which have a direct impact on meat quality, have been specifically studied. Nowadays, animal welfare is a major concern of scientists. Animals are considered as sentient creatures; they should be protected against poor treatment and have the best possible welfare. The welfare status of an animal is a subjective notion that depends on the animal’s emotional status. This emotional status depends on the way the animal evaluates its situation. This evaluation is influenced by previous experience and by genetic background. This article will report scientific work on the effects of the latter two factors on an animal’s reactivity to transport and to other forms of stress. It will also discuss the relationship between animal welfare during transport and the quality of meat products. In the future, new ways to investigate animal welfare are likely to develop, such as the appraisal theory and possibly the use of methods allowing the analysis of brain activity.