Poultry Welfare and Slaughter at Farm

On-farm slaughter eliminates the welfare harm of loading, transport, and slaughter at commercial facilities for certain categories of farm animals.

Key Facts

On-farm slaughter requires a licence in the UK for animals other than those for own consumption
Low throughput mobile slaughter units can serve small farms reducing transport welfare harm
Game birds including pheasants can be killed at point of origin reducing welfare harm
Emergency on-farm slaughter is legally permitted for injured animals unable to be transported
Some high-welfare producers have invested in on-farm slaughter facilities for chickens

Welfare Considerations

Transport to slaughter is a welfare-significant event that on-farm slaughter eliminates entirely. Animals killed on the farm they were raised on avoid the loading stress, transit, and unfamiliar slaughter environment that constitute significant welfare events. Commercial on-farm slaughter for poultry has been demonstrated to be viable for smaller flock sizes. Expanding the regulatory framework supporting mobile slaughter units for other species would extend this welfare benefit more widely.

What You Can Do

Support regulatory frameworks enabling on-farm mobile slaughter units
Choose products from producers using on-farm slaughter where available
Advocate for on-farm slaughter as a high-welfare option for appropriately sized flocks
Support research into welfare outcomes from on-farm versus conventional slaughter
Engage with policy consultations on expanding on-farm slaughter licensing