Controlled atmosphere stunning using inert gases is considered a more humane slaughter method for poultry than conventional electrical water bath stunning, but adoption remains limited.
The transition from conventional electrical stunning to controlled atmosphere stunning represents one of the most significant achievable welfare improvements available in commercial poultry slaughter. The current system requires live, conscious birds to be shackled upside down on a moving line before stunning — a process that causes fear, pain from shackling, and wing injuries. CAS with inert gases eliminates this pre-stun handling by rendering birds unconscious in their transport containers before any individual handling occurs. The welfare benefit is substantial and widely recognized by welfare scientists. The barrier to adoption is primarily economic, meaning consumer and regulatory pressure on producers and retailers is the key lever for accelerating transition.