How can slaughter be humane?
A 3. Slaughter can be humane if an animal is protected from avoidable excitement, pain or suffering. To achieve this, the animal must be effectively restrained and then stunned, rendering it insensible to pain, and finally bled rapidly and profusely to ensure death before recovery could occur. If a stunning method does not cause instantaneous insensibility, the stunning must be non-aversive (ie must not cause fear, pain or other unpleasant feelings) to the animal. Humane slaughter relies on multiple processes; hauliers, operators, stockmen, slaughtermen and equipment must work to their optimum, and in accordance with legislation, in order to ensure high welfare throughout the slaughter chain.
