Duck slaughter welfare has received less attention than poultry overall. Waterfowl have distinct anatomical and physiological features affecting stunning and slaughter effectiveness.
Duck slaughter welfare is an area where species-specific differences create welfare risks when chicken-optimised systems are applied without modification. The anatomical and physiological differences in ducks mean that stunning equipment and parameters designed for chickens may not achieve adequate insensibility in waterfowl. Welfare auditors and slaughter facility operators must use duck-specific protocols. The welfare implications of inadequate stunning at the scale of duck production - billions of ducks are slaughtered annually worldwide - are enormous.