Slaughter welfare auditing — including CCTV monitoring — is demonstrably effective at improving pig welfare outcomes and reducing abusive handling incidents.
Slaughter is the welfare-critical final stage of every farm animal's life. The evidence that CCTV monitoring improves welfare outcomes at this stage is strong and consistent — the presence of recording technology changes handler behavior in ways that reduce painful and distressing incidents. Independent audit goes further, providing evidence-based assessment against which facilities can be held accountable. The transparency that auditing creates also enables retailers and consumers to make welfare-informed choices. The fact that most slaughter facilities still lack mandatory independent monitoring represents a significant gap between stated welfare commitments and verifiable practice. Expanding CCTV requirements and strengthening independent audit requirements are among the most cost-effective welfare interventions available in pig production.