Slaughter method is one of the highest-impact welfare decisions in poultry production, and the evidence comparing controlled atmosphere killing with electrical water bath stunning favors controlled atmosphere systems for better welfare outcomes.
Poultry slaughter welfare is an area where the evidence clearly favors one method over another, yet adoption of the superior approach (controlled atmosphere killing) has been slow due to capital costs and regulatory inertia. The welfare case for controlled atmosphere killing is compelling: it eliminates shackling stress, prevents incomplete stunning, and ensures unconsciousness before painful procedures. Consumer and retailer pressure for welfare standards that specify slaughter method is the most effective mechanism to accelerate industry transition to controlled atmosphere systems.