Farm Animals

Farmed Pig CO2 Stunning: Animal Welfare at Slaughter

CO2 stunning is widely used for pig slaughter but causes aversive breathlessness before loss of consciousness, raising welfare concerns.

Key Facts

CO2 stunning causes aversive dyspnea lasting 15-30 seconds before unconsciousness
Pigs show vigorous escape attempts and vocalisation during CO2 exposure
Low atmospheric oxygen mixtures show better welfare profiles than CO2 in research settings
High CO2 concentrations (80-90%) cause unconsciousness faster than lower concentrations

Welfare Considerations

CO2 stunning causes a period of distressing breathlessness before unconsciousness. The welfare case for alternatives including low-oxygen and argon-based gas mixtures is strong. Consumer demand for higher welfare pork and retailer commitments can drive faster adoption of better stunning methods.

What You Can Do

Support campaigns for pig slaughter welfare improvement including stunning method reform
Choose pork from processors using non-CO2 stunning methods where verified
Advocate for mandatory welfare assessment of stunning methods in slaughter plant licensing