Farm Animals

Pig Pre-Slaughter Stunning Welfare

Pre-slaughter stunning efficacy determines the welfare of billions of pigs at the most critical welfare point in their lives.

Key Facts

Electrical stunning must achieve a generalized epileptic state to ensure unconsciousness
Head-to-body electrical stunning maintains blood quality better than head-only stunning
Current strength, frequency, and duration all affect stunning efficacy and animal welfare
Automated stunning systems with monitoring technology improve consistency over manual application
CO2 is widely used but causes aversion and distress before unconsciousness unlike inert gas alternatives

Welfare Considerations

Pigs that regain consciousness before death after ineffective stunning experience extreme distress and pain. Reliable stunning that consistently achieves unconsciousness in every animal is the most critical single welfare intervention at slaughter.

What You Can Do

Support investment in stunning verification technology and training for abattoir staff
Advocate for mandatory continuous stunning efficacy monitoring in slaughter regulations
Choose pork from abattoirs with certified higher welfare stunning protocols