Pre-slaughter feed withdrawal in pigs is a common industry practice intended to reduce gut contamination, but its duration and welfare implications have been the subject of ongoing debate.
Pre-slaughter feed withdrawal involves a deliberate welfare cost - hunger and associated distress in sentient animals - justified by food safety and contamination reduction goals. The welfare case for minimizing withdrawal duration is well-supported by evidence showing hunger distress behaviors and increased aggression within the normal fasting window. The critical insight from research is that extended withdrawal provides diminishing contamination benefits while producing increasing welfare costs, arguing for minimum effective fasting periods.