Farmed Pig Slaughter Welfare: The Final Hours

Slaughter is the highest-stakes welfare moment in a pig's life. Evidence-based stunning, handling, and slaughter methods can dramatically reduce suffering at this critical stage.

Key Facts

Electrical stunning renders pigs unconscious before slaughter in most European facilities when correctly applied
CO2 stunning is increasingly common despite evidence that high concentrations cause aversion and distress before unconsciousness
Stunning failures — where animals regain consciousness before death — occur at rates of 0.1-5% depending on facility
CCTV in slaughterhouses is mandatory in the UK following welfare scandal exposures; other countries are following
Pre-slaughter lairage conditions including noise, temperature, and mixing of unfamiliar pigs significantly affect welfare

Welfare Considerations

The concentr of welfare harm at slaughter makes it a high-priority improvement target. Stunning failures cause pigs to regain consciousness during bleed-out, experiencing extreme pain. CO2 stunning is increasingly controversial because pigs show visible distress behaviors during induction that indicates aversory experience before loss of consciousness. Electrical stunning applied correctly provides rapid unconsciousness but requires trained staff and proper electrode placement. CCTV monitoring has been shown to improve staff behavior and welfare outcomes by creating accountability. The economic incentive of line speed in high-throughput facilities pressures against the time needed for careful welfare management.

What You Can Do

Support mandatory CCTV in all slaughterhouses as a baseline accountability measure
Advocate for bans on CO2 stunning and replacement with controlled atmosphere methods that minimize aversion
Choose pork products from certified slaughterhouses with independent welfare auditing
Support higher welfare slaughter research including alternative stunning methods