Pig slaughter welfare encompasses the final hours of the animal's life, from lairage management through stunning to death, with important welfare gains available at each stage.
Pig slaughter welfare is the culmination of a welfare journey that either compounds or redeems the welfare of the production period. Pigs that arrive at slaughter in good condition, are rested appropriately, are not mixed with unfamiliar animals, and are handled calmly have a significantly better welfare experience in their final hours than those subject to any of these welfare risks. The most significant remaining welfare problem is CO2 stunning aversion during induction - a problem with a known solution (alternative gas mixtures) that has not yet been widely adopted. CCTV monitoring and official veterinarian oversight provide the accountability framework for improving slaughter welfare across the industry.