Slaughter/Killing

The process of killing an animal for the purpose of producing meat and meat products is referred to as slaughter. There are a number of steps involved from the time an animal leaves the farm until they are slaughtered and processed into meat and meat products.

Low Atmospheric Pressure Stunning (LAPS) is a form of stunning (inducing unconsciousness prior to slaughter) which may offer significant welfare improvements over the main commercial methods of gas and electrical stunning currently used for poultry. Its use in Australia should be considered. How does LAPS work?

The concept of a mobile slaughtering unit arose from the need to slaughter animals on farm for personal consumption.

Dictionary meanings of humane include: ‘kind, benevolent behaviour’ and ‘compassion for the suffering or distressed’ when applied to people and ‘inflicts less pain than others’ when applied to an instrument.

In Australia, it is legally required that pigs are stunned prior to slaughter. The purpose of stunning is to ensure an animal is unconscious and unable to experience pain, suffering or distress before slaughter.

RSPCA Australia is opposed to the sale at (street) markets and saleyards of individual farm animals destined for home slaughter because it cannot be guaranteed that such animals will be humanely and competently handled, transported and then killed.

Ventilation shutdown (VSD) methods cause prolonged distress and suffering of animals before death.

An abattoir is a facility that slaughters animals to produce meat and meat products for human consumption. A poultry processor is a facility that slaughters specifically poultry to produce meat and meat products for human consumption. State and territory governments regulate animal welfare in Australia.