Farm Animal Welfare

Farm Poultry: Pre-Slaughter Water Withdrawal Welfare

Feed and water withdrawal before poultry slaughter is a welfare-significant practice that causes dehydration and hunger, with duration limits important for welfare.

Key Facts

Feed withdrawal is used to reduce gut content before slaughter for food safety reasons
Water withdrawal causes dehydration stress measurable through haematocrit and behaviour
Maximum recommended withdrawal periods are 12 hours total for combined feed and water
Extended withdrawal causes welfare harm proportional to duration and temperature
Some systems use shorter withdrawal periods or solid feed withdrawal without water withdrawal

Welfare Considerations

Water withdrawal causes rapid dehydration in birds with high metabolic rates and ambient temperatures, creating significant welfare harm within hours. Feed withdrawal causes hunger and frustration. While complete elimination of withdrawal is impractical given food safety requirements, minimising duration to the lowest period consistent with safety requirements is the welfare priority.

What You Can Do

Advocate for reduced pre-slaughter withdrawal periods across the industry
Support welfare certification schemes with maximum withdrawal time requirements
Choose higher welfare poultry products from schemes with withdrawal time standards
Support research into slaughter systems that reduce the need for extended withdrawal
Learn about slaughter welfare as a component of overall poultry welfare