Farm Animals

Broiler Welfare at Slaughter Electrical Stunning

The welfare implications of water-bath electrical stunning for broiler chickens, including efficacy, failure rates, and alternatives.

Key Facts

Water-bath electrical stunning is used for most broilers slaughtered globally
Stun failure rates in water bath systems can be 1-5% creating serious welfare problems
Current settings must achieve immediate insensibility to minimize pre-slaughter suffering
Controlled atmosphere stunning systems achieve higher welfare outcomes than water bath
EU regulations require all animals be insensible at time of shackling death

Welfare Considerations

Slaughter is the moment of highest risk for welfare failure in poultry production. Electrical stunning systems vary enormously in effectiveness, and inadequate implementation means millions of chickens may experience pain and distress at death.

What You Can Do

Support mandatory controlled atmosphere killing standards for poultry
Advocate for water bath stunning parameter monitoring and validation
Choose chicken from farms with certified humane slaughter protocols