Farm Animals

Avian Influenza Welfare and Culling Ethics

Highly pathogenic avian influenza outbreaks require rapid mass culling of poultry flocks. The welfare of billions of birds killed in emergency responses is a major ongoing concern.

Key Facts

HPAI H5N1 has triggered the culling of over 200 million poultry birds in the US since 2022
CO2 gas is considered the most humane mass culling method for poultry but is not always used
Ventilation shutdown, which involves overheating birds in sealed buildings, has been used as a mass depopulation method and is condemned by welfare organizations
Emergency culling methods must balance speed requirements with welfare obligations for billions of sentient animals

Welfare Considerations

Avian influenza culling creates massive welfare crises in which billions of birds are killed under emergency conditions. The choice of culling method makes an enormous difference to welfare outcomes. Ventilation shutdown causes prolonged heat distress before death and fails basic welfare standards. CO2 systems and foam depopulation methods are significantly more humane and should be required rather than optional in emergency protocols.

What You Can Do

Support advocacy requiring humane culling methods in avian influenza response protocols
Oppose ventilation shutdown as an emergency depopulation method through engagement with regulators
Advocate for contingency stockpiles of humane culling equipment at poultry-dense regions
Support research into more humane emergency depopulation technologies for large-scale poultry operations