Slaughter is the final welfare event in a farmed animal's life. Effective stunning, calm handling, and good abattoir management minimise the suffering of the last hours and minutes.
Abattoir welfare is the closing welfare chapter for billions of farmed animals annually. Effective stunning — applied correctly, to the right standard, consistently — transforms slaughter from a potentially prolonged suffering event to a rapid, welfare-compatible end. Equipment maintenance, operator training, and monitoring systems that detect stunning failures are the practical welfare safeguards. Pre-slaughter handling in lairage — minimising social mixing, avoiding electric prod use, providing calm and experienced handling, and minimising waiting time — reduces the fear and stress of the hours before stunning. The welfare argument for stunning before any form of slaughter, including religious slaughter, is supported by the scientific consensus on pain and consciousness.