Cattle Slaughter: Understanding the Numbers

Every second, approximately 10 cattle are slaughtered worldwide for beef and other products. This page explains our methodology, sources, and the specific claims we make.

The Claim We Make

> "{count} cows were hung upside down and had their throats slit while still conscious"

This page explains both how many cattle are slaughtered and how we know about stunning failures that leave animals conscious during slaughter.

What Happens

Cattle raised for beef are typically slaughtered at 18-24 months of age. Dairy cows, after their milk production declines (usually around age 4-6, despite a natural lifespan of 20+ years), are also sent to slaughter.

The standard slaughter process: 1. Stunning: A captive bolt gun is fired into the forehead to render the animal unconscious 2. Shackling: The stunned animal is shackled by one hind leg 3. Hoisting: The animal is lifted onto an overhead rail 4. Throat cutting: The carotid arteries and jugular veins are severed 5. Bleed-out: The animal bleeds to death

The problem: Captive bolt stunning does not always work correctly. EFSA audits and slaughterhouse studies document that 3-5% of cattle may not be effectively stunned on the first attempt, and some may regain consciousness during the bleed-out period. Animals that are not properly stunned experience the subsequent procedures while conscious.

The Scale

| Timeframe | Count | |-----------|-------| | Per second | 10 | | Per minute | 600 | | Per hour | 36,000 | | Per day | 864,000 | | Per year | ~300,000,000 |

Conscious during slaughter (estimated): | Timeframe | Count | |-----------|-------| | Per second | ~0.3-0.5 | | Per day | ~26,000-43,000 | | Per year | ~9-15 million |

How We Calculate This

Total cattle slaughtered: ~300 million per year globally - Source: FAO FAOSTAT (2022)

Stunning failure rate: 3-5% may not be effectively stunned - Source: EFSA Scientific Opinion, Temple Grandin audits

Our calculation: 300,000,000 ÷ 31,536,000 seconds = 9.5 per second (displayed as 10)

Note: Our counter displays the total slaughter rate. The claim about consciousness refers to the documented reality that stunning failures occur, not that all animals are conscious.

Sources for the Count

FAO FAOSTAT - **Organization:** Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (Intergovernmental) - **Year:** 2022 - **What it measures:** Global livestock production including total cattle slaughter numbers - **Link:** [fao.org/faostat](https://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#data/QCL)

USDA NASS - **Organization:** US Department of Agriculture (Government) - **Year:** 2023 - **What it measures:** US cattle slaughter data - **Link:** [nass.usda.gov](https://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_Subject/)

Sources for the Practice

EFSA Scientific Opinion on Cattle Slaughter - **Organization:** European Food Safety Authority (Government/Scientific) - **Year:** 2020 - **What it documents:** Welfare at slaughter including stunning effectiveness - **Key finding:** "Ineffective stunning is one of the main hazards... animals may recover consciousness before death" - **Link:** [efsa.europa.eu](https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/6275)

Temple Grandin Audit Data - **Organization:** Colorado State University / Industry Audits (Academic) - **Year:** 2019-2023 - **What it documents:** Slaughterhouse audits tracking stunning effectiveness - **Key finding:** Industry benchmarks show 95-97% effective first-shot stunning, meaning 3-5% may require re-stunning or are not effectively stunned - **Link:** [grandin.com](https://www.grandin.com/humane/cap.bolt.tips.html)

Animal Welfare Institute Reports - **Organization:** Animal Welfare Institute (NGO) - **Year:** 2022 - **What it documents:** Investigations into slaughterhouse practices - **Key finding:** Documents cases of cattle showing signs of consciousness during bleed-out - **Link:** [awionline.org](https://awionline.org/content/slaughter)

USDA FSIS Humane Handling Data - **Organization:** US Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service (Government) - **Year:** 2023 - **What it documents:** Inspection records for humane handling violations - **Key finding:** Documents regulatory actions taken for improper stunning - **Link:** [fsis.usda.gov](https://www.fsis.usda.gov/inspection/compliance-guidance/humane-handling)

Confidence Assessment

| Aspect | Confidence | Notes | |--------|------------|-------| | Total slaughter count | High | FAO data is comprehensive and regularly updated | | Stunning failures occur | High | Documented in EFSA opinions, industry audits, USDA records | | 3-5% failure rate | Medium | Varies significantly by facility; based on audit data | | Consciousness during processing | High | Scientific literature documents signs of consciousness recovery | | Overall claim | High | Count is robust; stunning failures are documented reality |

--- Last updated: January 2026 | Data year: 2022 | Confidence: High