Compaxo stands out as the only large-scale pig slaughterhouse in the Netherlands that uses electric stunning rather than CO₂ gas. This is a significant distinction, as electric stunning—when carried out properly—renders pigs unconscious immediately. In contrast, CO₂ stunning causes pigs to experience 10 to 25 seconds of stress, fear, and even panic due to the sensation of suffocation and the painful burning irritation of mucous membranes caused by the gas’s high acidity.
Four years ago, Compaxo underwent a major renovation, resulting in a state-of-the-art facility designed to significantly reduce stress and improve animal welfare. One of the key improvements was increasing the number of stunning units from one to four. This has reduced time pressure on both staff and animals by a factor of four. Pigs are now moved in smaller groups instead of large ones through the crowd-pen, which helps ease the flow and lowers stress levels. The workers no longer need any prods or rattling paddles to move them here, they just herd them by walking behind them with a board. The restraint area has also been redesigned to allow two pigs to walk side-by-side, rather than in single file—another meaningful improvement for their well-being.
Thanks to these advancements, the slaughter process at Compaxo is now considerably more humane. The entire design serves as a practical and effective alternative to CO₂ gas stunning for large slaughterhouses.
Because electric stunning is still commonly used in Japan—unlike in Europe, where there has been a shift toward CO₂ under commercial pressure—this visit was especially relevant for the Japanese delegation. Seeing Compaxo’s innovative system in action gave them valuable insights and practical solutions they can take back and adapt to their own facilities.
