Skip to main content
English Cymraeg
Animal Welfare Report 2024/25

Animal Welfare - Annex 2

25/09/06 - Annex 2

Last updated: 3 September 2025
Last updated: 3 September 2025

Total throughput and non-compliances

This data shows the total annual throughput and incidences of major and critical animal welfare related non-compliances in slaughterhouses. The table below summarises the figures from 2020/21 to 2024/25. It shows that since 2020 the proportion of animals detected being involved in major and critical incidents has remained very low, at a fraction of 1% of all animals.

Level 3 (major) and level 4 (critical) slaughterhouse animal welfare non-compliances

 

2020/21

2021/22

2022/23

2023/24

2024/25

Total number of animals processed (throughput)

1,038,234,124

1,036,098,739

1,013,294,689

1,009,052,611

1,035,481,172

Animals processed in compliance with welfare

1,038,194,198

1,036,047,607

1,013,244,791

1,009,008,596

1,026,880,347

Animals processed not in compliance with welfare

39,926 (A)

51,132 (B)

49,898 (C)

44,015 (D)

33,920 (E)

Percentage of animals processed compliantly

99.99615%

99.99506%

99.99400%

99.99564%

99.99670%

Percentage of animals involved in noncompliance

0.00384%

0.00494%

0.00492%

0.00436%

0.00330%

 

(A)    includes three instances, totalling 20,573 birds of mechanical breakdowns that delayed processing.  There was no evidence that the birds experienced suffering or distress.

(B)    includes three instances, totalling 46,281 birds where food / water / ventilation was not adequately provided.  There was no evidence that the birds experienced suffering or distress.

(C)    40,089 of the 49,898 animals were scored at level 3 (potential for suffering).  Of that, there was an incident of 17,400 birds in which unloading was delayed, however the birds were prioritised for slaughter and did not suffer from the delay.

(D)    Includes a batch of 30,000 birds and a batch of 10,650 birds where slaughter was delayed due to plant breakdowns and feed/water was not provided.

(E)    Includes one case affecting 28,800 birds where slaughter was delayed due to a plant breakdown and feed/water was not provided.