Turkey slaughter involves specific welfare challenges due to their large size, strength, and the limitations of water bath stunning systems for heavy birds. Reform is needed.
Turkey slaughter welfare is compromised by the physical challenges of handling large, mobile birds at commercial throughput. Shackling upright conscious birds inverts their body weight onto their legs causing pain and struggling. Water bath stunning efficacy for heavy tom turkeys is lower than for broiler chickens. Controlled atmosphere systems resolve the shackling issue but require capital investment. The welfare case for CAS adoption in turkey slaughter is compelling.