This alert is no longer active, but here for reference. Animals still need your help.

The United States Department of Agriculture is proposing new rules that would dramatically speed up slaughterhouse line speeds for pigs, chickens, and turkeys, intensifying already extreme suffering in these facilities. This policy prioritizes rapid, high-volume killing and industry profit over the lives of animals and the safety of workers. Urge its Food Safety and Inspection Service to reject this abhorrent proposal.
 

Current slaughter line limits would be removed, allowing pig slaughterhouses to operate beyond the current cap of 1,106 pigs killed per hour. Chicken slaughter speeds would increase to up to 175 birds per minute, and turkey lines to up to 60 per minute. If finalized, these rules would apply to most slaughtered animals in the United States, covering the majority of pigs, chickens, and turkeys.

Pushing slaughter even faster increases the likelihood of animals being more abused and improperly stunned, remaining conscious as their throats are slashed, and experiencing agonizing and prolonged deaths.

Workers are under extreme pressure to keep pace with faster lines. Slaughterhouse jobs are already among the most dangerous in the United States, with high rates of repetitive strain injuries, lacerations, and amputations. One-third of workers are immigrants performing repetitive knife work under intense time pressure. At extreme speeds, the risk of injury increases, with documented cases of workers killed by machinery and sliced by blades.

Slaughterhouse workers face some of the highest rates of suicide, PTSD, anxiety, substance abuse, and domestic violence among U.S. occupations. Faster line speeds may also compromise food safety, increasing the risk that meat contaminated with disease-causing pathogens enters the food supply. These rules would also reduce transparency by removing requirements for slaughter plants to report worker injury data, limiting accountability in an already violent and deceptive industry.

The proposal is being pushed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)'s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). The USDA is tasked with both regulating animal agribusiness and promoting its growth, creating a built-in conflict of interest that undermines how these rules are written, inspected, and enforced.

Compounding this, farmed animals are not covered under the Animal Welfare Act, leaving them without basic protections during their short, miserable lives of confinement, mutilations, and forced separation from their families. This is only a fraction of the cruelty they endure before they end in terror.

There is nothing humane about a slaughterhouse.

Letter 1 to Decision Maker(s) for reference:

Subject: Do Not Increase Slaughter Speeds That Harm Pigs and Workers

I strongly oppose this proposed rule to increase slaughter line speeds for pigs. This rule would intensify already extreme suffering for animals and put workers in grave danger.

Faster line speeds make it more likely that pigs will not be properly stunned, leaving many conscious during slaughter and enduring unimaginable pain. This is horrifying and completely unnecessary. Pigs are highly intelligent and emotionally sensitive animals, capable of feeling pain, fear, and joy, much like dogs.

Workers in slaughterhouses already face some of the most dangerous jobs in the U.S., with high rates of lacerations, amputations, repetitive strain injuries, and other serious harm. Increasing line speeds will only make these risks worse, and workers frequently experience severe mental health impacts, including trauma, anxiety, and depression.

Faster killing also threatens food safety because inspectors have less time to detect contamination or disease. Decisions about slaughter should not be based solely on cost or production speed. Ethical and safety concerns must come first. I urge you to reject this abhorrent proposal and protect both animals and workers.

Sincerely,

Signed

Letter 2 to Decision Maker(s) for reference:

Subject: Do Not Increase Slaughter Speeds That Harm Birds and Workers

I am strongly against this proposed rule to increase slaughter line speeds for chickens and turkeys. This rule would greatly increase suffering for these animals and put workers in serious danger.

High-speed slaughter makes it more likely that birds will not be stunned properly, leaving many conscious during slaughter and enduring unimaginable pain. This is egregious cruelty and completely unnecessary. Chickens and turkeys are highly intelligent and sensitive animals, capable of feeling pain, fear, and distress.

Workers in poultry slaughterhouses already perform some of the most dangerous jobs in the U.S., with high rates of lacerations, amputations, repetitive strain injuries, and other serious harm. Increasing line speeds will only make these risks worse, and workers frequently suffer severe mental health impacts, including PTSD, anxiety, and depression.

Faster killing also threatens food safety because inspectors have less time to detect contamination or disease. Decisions about slaughter should not be based solely on cost or production speed.

Ethical and safety considerations must come first. I urge you to reject this abhorrent proposal and protect both animals and workers.

Sincerely,

Signed

This alert is no longer active, but here for reference. Animals still need your help.