On-farm and mobile slaughter eliminates the welfare costs of live transport to abattoirs and may represent the most welfare-positive end-of-life option for many farm animals.
The welfare case for on-farm or mobile slaughter is strong in principle. Animals spend their final hours in familiar surroundings with familiar animals and caregivers rather than experiencing transport stress, unfamiliar handling and the sensory overload of conventional abattoirs. Research shows that familiar environments and handlers significantly reduce fear and stress indicators before slaughter. Regulatory frameworks that require all commercial slaughter to occur in fixed abattoirs create a barrier to this welfare improvement. Expanding mobile slaughter licensing, maintaining food safety standards, and supporting farmer uptake could deliver meaningful welfare benefits across the livestock sector.