Welfare at slaughter affects billions of animals annually. Understanding what good slaughterhouse practice requires helps advocates target effective improvements.
The slaughterhouse is where the consequences of animal farming welfare are most directly felt. Pre-slaughter stunning, when correctly applied, renders animals unconscious before killing, preventing suffering. When stunning fails or is not required, animals may regain consciousness during slaughter. Handling methods in the lead-up to slaughter significantly affect stress — good-practice abattoirs use low-stress handling techniques, non-slip floors, and calm environments. Mandatory CCTV has been shown to reduce welfare breaches where implemented.