Low atmospheric pressure stunning (LAPS) is emerging as a more humane pre-slaughter system for poultry that avoids the welfare problems of water bath and CO2 methods.
Low atmospheric pressure stunning represents one of the most promising welfare advances in poultry slaughter. Unlike water bath stunning, which requires live shackling of conscious birds, or high CO2, which causes aversive experiences before unconsciousness, LAPS can be delivered in containers before birds are even removed from transport crates. The gentle reduction in oxygen availability induces unconsciousness without the distress of alternative methods. The adoption curve for LAPS has been faster than for many welfare innovations because it also addresses handling injuries and operator welfare alongside bird welfare, creating multiple adoption incentives.