Farm Animals

Pig CO2 Alternatives Research Welfare

Research into alternatives to CO2 stunning for pigs has intensified as CO2 is recognized to cause aversion and distress before unconsciousness.

Key Facts

CO2 at concentrations required for stunning causes severe respiratory distress and aversion in pigs
Pigs show escape behavior and distress vocalizations during CO2 induction that indicate suffering
Argon and nitrogen gas alternatives induce unconsciousness more rapidly with less aversion
High-flow nitrogen achieves rapid hypoxic stunning but requires precise delivery systems
Implementation costs have slowed adoption of CO2 alternatives despite evidence of welfare benefit

Welfare Considerations

Pigs subjected to CO2 stunning experience 20 to 30 seconds of respiratory distress before unconsciousness. This represents significant preventable suffering for every pig slaughtered using CO2, affecting billions of animals annually worldwide.

What You Can Do

Support organizations advocating for CO2 alternatives in pig slaughter
Advocate for investment in lower-aversion stunning alternatives through industry and regulatory engagement
Choose pork from farms using or committed to adopting lower-aversion slaughter methods