Water bath electrical stunning is the most common method of stunning poultry before slaughter, with effectiveness depending critically on current parameters and bird placement.
Effective stunning is the critical welfare moment in broiler slaughter - it must render birds immediately insensible. Studies have found a significant proportion of birds in some water bath systems are not effectively stunned. The distress of shackling conscious birds is also a major welfare concern. Controlled atmosphere stunning eliminates the shackling stress and provides a welfare advantage when properly operated.