A multicast traffic transmission method includes: detecting (S201) whether a transmission link between a designed forwarder (DF) and a traffic reception device is abnormal; and when the transmission link between the DF and the traffic reception device is abnormal, sending (S202) a first request to a backup designed forwarder (BDF). A packet of the first request includes a protection mark and address information about the traffic reception device, and the first request is used for requesting the BDF to forward traffic to the traffic reception device.