Cattle slaughter welfare depends on pre-slaughter management, handling, and stunning method; each phase offers specific welfare improvement opportunities.
Cattle slaughter welfare encompasses the entire period from farm departure to death — each stage offers welfare improvement opportunities. Lairage time and mixing of unfamiliar cattle causes social stress; low-stress handling using curved race designs reduces handling fear; effective stunning is a non-negotiable welfare requirement. The debate around non-stun religious slaughter involves genuine religious freedom considerations but also genuine welfare costs that should be transparently acknowledged in any policy discussion.