On-farm emergency slaughter allows animals that cannot be transported to slaughter to be humanely killed on farm, and the quality of emergency killing is a critical but often overlooked welfare intervention.
Animals that require emergency killing are already suffering from injury or illness. Poorly performed emergency slaughter prolongs this suffering: inadequate stunning leading to recovery of consciousness, or slow bleeding from imprecise sticking, causes additional and preventable suffering. Ensuring farmers have appropriate training, equipment and veterinary backup for emergency situations is a critical welfare intervention.