Stunning before slaughter is the key welfare intervention for poultry. Understanding which methods are most effective and humane matters for over a billion birds killed in the UK annually.
Stunning before slaughter is the single most important welfare intervention in poultry processing, determining whether billions of birds experience consciousness during the killing process. Electrical water bath stunning, while widely used, has documented failure rates that leave some birds inadequately stunned. Controlled atmosphere stunning, where birds are rendered unconscious with gas before any hanging or handling, is considered the gold standard for welfare but requires significant capital investment. The ongoing use of religious slaughter without pre-stunning remains a contested welfare issue, with the RSPCA, BVA and Humane Slaughter Association advocating for stunning requirements across all slaughter. The science is clear: stunning reduces suffering; the debate is about balancing welfare against religious freedom.