Dossier

Pig stunning and bleeding

Slaughter must legally spare animals any avoidable pain, distress or suffering. This implies that moving animals into the stunner and holding them there for the purpose of stunning must be done without causing undue fear and distress as may be shown by animals vocalising and trying to turn back or being reluctant to move. Stunning should apply proper electric current or CO2 concentrations such that animals rapidly lose consciousness and do not recover before they have been killed by bleeding.
Head-to-body stunning - © A. Velarde, IRTA
Source photo: © A. Velarde, IRTA

About this dossier

Table of contents

Legislation

Knowledge

Welfare indicators

Inspiring example: Brand Qualitätsfleisch

Inspiring example: Thönes Naturverbund

Inspiring example: Examples of artificial intelligence in slaughterhouses to improve animal welfare

Training courses

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