Slaughter welfare for pigs requires effective stunning, controlled lairage conditions, and trained staff to minimise fear and pain at end of life.
Slaughter welfare represents the final welfare event in a pig's life and requires the same standard of care as any other management procedure. CO2 stunning, while widely used, causes aversive respiratory sensations as pigs enter the high concentration gas. European research into alternatives including higher-accuracy electrical and argon gas is ongoing. Lairage welfare is critical in the hours before slaughter: isolation from herd companions causes distress, unfamiliar environments and handlers elevate fear, and rough handling causes pain. CCTV monitoring provides accountability for slaughter welfare. Training slaughter staff in pig handling and welfare significantly reduces pre-slaughter fear and pain.