The speed at which animals move through slaughter facilities directly affects welfare — high line speeds increase stunning failures and handling stress that compromise welfare at slaughter.
Line speed is perhaps the single most underappreciated determinant of slaughter welfare outcomes. The pressure of high throughput creates conditions where welfare standards are systematically compromised — stunning operators do not have sufficient time, fatigued workers become less accurate, and the entire system optimises for speed at the expense of animal wellbeing. Mandatory maximum line speeds, independent welfare monitoring, real-time stunning effectiveness assessment and consequences for welfare violations create the accountability that market forces alone cannot provide. CCTV monitoring has proven effective in detecting violations; independent veterinary oversight during all operations should be the global standard.