Halal and kosher slaughter practices vary in their use of pre-slaughter stunning. The welfare evidence on non-stunned slaughter is contested but regulatory approaches are evolving across countries.
The welfare evidence indicates that non-stunned slaughter causes a period of aversion and nociceptive response after the throat cut, before loss of consciousness. The duration and intensity of this period varies by species, method and skill of the operator. The welfare debate is not between religion and welfare - many Muslim and some Jewish authorities accept forms of stunning as compatible with religious requirements. The most welfare-constructive approach focuses on engagement with religious communities to develop stunning methods compatible with their requirements, rather than adversarial legislative approaches that entrench opposition and reduce dialogue.