Farmed Animals

End-of-Life Welfare for Farm Animals

End-of-life decisions and practices for farm animals deserve the same welfare consideration as other life stages.

Key Facts

Animals too sick or injured to transport or slaughter commercially face significant welfare gaps
On-farm emergency slaughter must be performed humanely and promptly to prevent prolonged suffering
Breeding animals reaching the end of their productive life are often sold for slaughter after long transport
Cull cows from dairy herds are transported long distances in poor condition
Emergency killing on farm requires trained personnel and appropriate equipment for each species

Welfare Considerations

End-of-life welfare for farm animals is frequently a welfare blind spot. Animals that fall outside commercial slaughter channels through illness or injury may experience prolonged suffering. Prompt, humane on-farm killing for animals that cannot be transported, and minimum standards for transport of cull animals, are urgent welfare priorities.

What You Can Do

Support mandatory on-farm emergency killing competency training for all livestock keepers
Advocate for standards that limit transport of cull animals in poor condition
Choose products from supply chains with transparent end-of-life welfare policies
Support research into on-farm emergency killing methods and welfare standards