Pre-slaughter handling in the final hours before death has enormous welfare consequences for billions of animals, yet remains an area of significant welfare failure.
Pre-slaughter handling welfare affects the final hours of billions of animals' lives and represents a massive opportunity for welfare improvement. Animals moving through slaughter facilities experience fear from unfamiliar environments, separation from conspecifics, novel smells and sounds, and handling by strangers. Rough handling with electric prods causes pain and significantly elevates stress hormones. Poorly designed facilities create environments where animals balk and refuse to move forward, leading to escalating force. Good facility design based on livestock behavior principles - use of curves rather than straight lines, solid sides to prevent visual distractions, adequate lighting, and appropriate handling density - dramatically reduces stress without costing more to operate. Training of slaughter personnel in low-stress handling is an evidence-based, cost-effective welfare intervention.