RSPCA criticised for defending pig deaths in slaughterhouses as ‘more humane’

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Slaughterhouses are specifically designed to kill animals, the charity said, and shooting thousands of healthy pigs on a farm “will be extremely difficult, even for a skilled expert”. However, animal-welfare experts at Compassion in World Farming said shooting was greatly preferable to a slaughterhouse death, where most are poisoned with high concentrations of carbon dioxide gas, causing immense suffering and an “inhumane” death. It makes a mockery of the term ‘humane slaughter’.” Emma Slawinski, of the RSPCA, which has previously lobbied against use of carbon dioxide, said: “Slaughterhouses are specifically designed to kill animals. “Farmers want to do the right thing and get their animals to slaughterhouses where they can be slaughtered more humanely.” Mr Stevenson agreed stunning pigs with a captive bolt was not easy, but said if carried out correctly it would produce instant unconsciousness, which was “greatly preferable” to carbon dioxide.