Small and local abattoirs often provide better animal welfare outcomes than large industrial facilities, and their survival is important for high-welfare food systems.
Welfare at slaughter is shaped by facility design, operator competence, animal handling practices, and stunning method effectiveness. Small local abattoirs allow shorter journey times, reducing cumulative transport stress, and often enable closer relationships between staff and the animals they handle. However, they may also have less consistent oversight. Supporting high-welfare abattoirs through purchasing choices, and advocating for proportionate regulation, can help preserve facilities that offer better outcomes for animals.