The Animal Welfare Committee (AWC) in the United Kingdom (UK) has called for urgent changes in the way pigs are stunned before they are slaughtered.
They raise serious concerns about the continued use of high-concentration carbon dioxide (CO₂).
Around 90% of pigs killed in England and Wales are currently stunned using this method. The AWC says this causes pain, fear and respiratory distress to the animals before they lose consciousness.
High-concentration CO₂ stunning is widely used because it’s cheap and easier for workers, as pigs are killed in groups.
Gas chambers for pigs
Pigs are placed in a gondola or lift that slowly descends into a chamber filled with CO₂ gas.
When inhaled, high concentrations of CO₂ create a burning sensation in the nose, throat, and lungs. Pigs often show signs of panic, gasping, and physical distress before losing consciousness.
In contrast, alternatives such as electrical stunning and inert gas stunning are considered less distressing. These methods either cause near-instant unconsciousness or prevent the respiratory distress associated with CO₂.
Despite recommendations from European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the AWC’s to phase out CO₂ stunning, it remains the dominant method in the UK.
The AWC reviewed new research, including the recent EU-funded PigStun project, which confirmed that CO₂ stunning is harmful and should be replaced.
Other studies, including one co-funded by the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra), have tested alternatives such as Low Atmospheric Pressure Stunning (LAPS), but results have shown no clear welfare improvements over CO₂.
Invest in animal welfare solutions
The AWC concluded that while there is no perfect solution yet, investment in non-aversive gas alternatives and improved electrical stunning methods is essential.
They also highlighted the need for updated facilities and industry cooperation to make these alternatives possible.
The UK pig industry has changed in the last two decades, with increased automation and better data collection. However, the core animal welfare issue of how pigs are stunned before death remains unresolved.
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Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: theanimalreader.com
