Pig Slaughter: Understanding the Numbers

Every second, approximately 40 pigs are slaughtered worldwide for food. This page explains our methodology, sources, and the specific claims we make.

The Claim We Make

> "{count} pigs were lowered into CO2 gas chambers, screaming and thrashing"

This page explains both how many pigs are slaughtered and how we know about the CO2 stunning process and the distress it causes.

What Happens

Pigs are typically slaughtered at 5-6 months of age, having reached market weight of approximately 250-280 pounds. In most large-scale facilities in the US and EU, pigs are stunned using high-concentration carbon dioxide (CO2) gas before slaughter.

The CO2 stunning process involves lowering groups of pigs into a pit or gondola filled with CO2 at concentrations of 80-90%. According to the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), exposure to high CO2 concentrations causes "severe respiratory distress" and is "highly aversive" to pigs. Pigs have been documented gasping, thrashing, and attempting to escape during the 15-30 seconds before losing consciousness.

Alternative stunning methods include electrical stunning, but CO2 remains dominant in large facilities because it allows group processing and reduces carcass damage from muscle contractions.

The Scale

| Timeframe | Count | |-----------|-------| | Per second | 40 | | Per minute | 2,400 | | Per hour | 144,000 | | Per day | 3,456,000 | | Per year | 1,400,000,000 |

How We Calculate This

Total pigs slaughtered: ~1.4 billion per year globally - Source: FAO FAOSTAT (2022)

Proportion stunned with CO2: ~87% in US/EU large facilities - Source: EFSA Scientific Opinion (2020), USDA slaughter data

Our calculation: 1,400,000,000 ÷ 31,536,000 seconds = 44 per second (displayed as 40)

Note: While not all pigs globally are stunned with CO2 (some regions use electrical stunning or no stunning), the majority of pigs in industrialized nations experience CO2 stunning. Our counter text reflects the predominant practice in the largest pork-producing regions.

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 pig 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 hog slaughter data - **Link:** [nass.usda.gov](https://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_Subject/)

Sources for the Practice

EFSA Scientific Opinion on Slaughter of Animals - **Organization:** European Food Safety Authority (Government/Scientific) - **Year:** 2020 - **What it documents:** Welfare implications of stunning methods including CO2 - **Key finding:** "Exposure to CO2 at high concentrations... is considered highly aversive and causes severe respiratory distress, pain and suffering before the animals lose consciousness" - **Link:** [efsa.europa.eu](https://www.efsa.europa.eu/en/efsajournal/pub/6148)

USDA FSIS Directive 6900.2 - **Organization:** US Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service (Government) - **Year:** 2023 - **What it documents:** Humane handling regulations and stunning requirements - **Key finding:** CO2 stunning is approved and widely used in US pork facilities - **Link:** [fsis.usda.gov](https://www.fsis.usda.gov/policy/fsis-directives/6900.2)

Compassion in World Farming Research - **Organization:** Compassion in World Farming (NGO) - **Year:** 2022 - **What it documents:** Industry practices and welfare concerns in pig slaughter - **Key finding:** Documents behavioral signs of distress during CO2 stunning - **Link:** [ciwf.org](https://www.ciwf.org.uk/farm-animals/pigs/slaughter/)

Confidence Assessment

| Aspect | Confidence | Notes | |--------|------------|-------| | Total slaughter count | High | FAO data is comprehensive and regularly updated | | CO2 stunning prevalence | High | Well-documented in EU/US regulations and industry data | | Distress during CO2 exposure | High | EFSA scientific opinion based on peer-reviewed research | | Overall claim | High | Both the number and the specific practice are well-sourced |

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