Slaughter is a critical welfare point for livestock but auditing systems to ensure humane practices are often weak, inconsistent, and rarely independent. Reform is essential to close the gap between policy and practice.
The final moments of farmed animals are among the most poorly regulated and monitored in the production cycle. Slaughterhouse workers face high throughput pressure that creates conditions for welfare failures. Independent auditing, video monitoring, and transparent reporting are essential to ensuring that existing welfare standards are actually implemented. Companies that invest in third-party audits and publish results demonstrate significantly better welfare outcomes than those relying solely on government inspection.