Farm Animal Welfare

Pig Slaughter CO2 Stunning Debate Advanced

CO2 stunning of pigs is the dominant commercial slaughter method but causes significant distress during induction; alternative gases and methods are under development.

Key Facts

Over 95% of UK pigs are stunned with CO2 before slaughter
CO2 causes aversive sensations including breathlessness and burning of mucous membranes
Pigs show avoidance behaviour during CO2 induction indicating genuine distress
Inert gas mixtures including argon and nitrogen are aversive but potentially less so than CO2
High concentration CO2 followed by lower concentration may reduce induction time and distress

Welfare Considerations

CO2 stunning is commercially dominant but welfare-inadequate; the pig industry has a clear ethical obligation to accelerate adoption of better alternatives as they become viable.

What You Can Do

Support research and industry action on CO2 stunning alternatives
Advocate for welfare-based stunning standards in pig slaughter regulation
Choose pork from producers investing in stunning welfare improvement