Farm Animals

Broiler Slaughter Welfare: Stunning and Killing Methods

The slaughter of broiler chickens involves multiple welfare hazards from catching and transport through to stunning and killing, with effective stunning being the most critical factor.

Key Facts

Over 1 billion broiler chickens are slaughtered in the UK each year
Traditional water bath electrical stunning requires birds to be hung shackled and conscious before stunning
Controlled atmosphere killing (CAK) using gas avoids conscious shackling but has its own welfare trade-offs
Stunning failure rates in conventional slaughterhouses can be significant but are difficult to audit
Mandatory CCTV in UK slaughterhouses has been in place since 2018 but enforcement varies

Welfare Considerations

Effective irreversible stunning before slaughter is the most critical welfare requirement at slaughter. Birds that regain consciousness before or during killing experience severe pain and distress. The transition from conventional electrical stunning to more humane multi-phase gas killing systems is one of the most significant welfare improvements available to the industry.

What You Can Do

Support mandatory transition to higher welfare gas stunning methods in broiler slaughter
Advocate for stronger CCTV monitoring requirements and independent verification
Choose chicken products certified to higher welfare standards including RSPCA Assured
Support the Better Chicken Commitment which includes slaughter welfare requirements
Encourage transparency from retailers about their slaughter welfare requirements