Mobile slaughter units allow pigs to be slaughtered on-farm, eliminating transport stress and representing a significant welfare improvement for certain production systems.
Transport stress in pigs is well documented, causing acute physiological stress, fighting injuries during mixing, and temperature extremes. On-farm slaughter eliminates this entire stress pathway. Mobile units are equipped with CO2 gas stunners or electrical stunning equipment meeting standard welfare requirements, with the benefit that pigs are slaughtered in a familiar environment without transport loading. The higher per-unit cost is often acceptable in premium, welfare-accredited production systems.