The lairage period - when pigs wait at the slaughterhouse before slaughter - is a significant welfare risk point. Stress, fighting, and poor conditions during lairage affect both welfare and meat quality.
The final hours before slaughter are among the most stressful in a pig's life, involving transport, mixing with unfamiliar animals, and unfamiliar environments. Minimising time in lairage, avoiding mixing groups, and maintaining optimal temperature and density significantly reduce pre-slaughter suffering.