Fear responses in pigs at slaughter represent a significant welfare concern, with research identifying key stress points and effective mitigation strategies.
The slaughter process is a welfare critical point for pigs. Transport, lairage, handling, and stunning each create distinct welfare challenges. Pigs are highly intelligent and emotionally sensitive animals; their fear responses are real and measurable. CO2 stunning, despite its efficiency, is increasingly criticized because pigs experience a period of distress before losing consciousness. Low-stress handling techniques — developed by animal behavior researchers — can dramatically reduce fear and vocalizations during pre-slaughter handling. Effective stunning, rapidly applied, remains essential. Slaughter facilities require ongoing training, monitoring, and welfare auditing to maintain standards under commercial pressure.