Slaughter & Processing Worker Demographic Segments
How reliable are the figures from the Census Bureau and BLS? The figures on worker demographics from the Census Bureau and the BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics) should generally be considered baseline figures only. There are significant challenges in determining citizenship status, country of birth, race, gender, and ethnicity of U.S. workers, particularly in the […]
Animal Welfare Act
What is the Animal Welfare Act (AWA)? The Animal Welfare Act (AWA) is a federal law that regulates the treatment of certain animals used in research, teaching, testing, exhibition, transport, or under the care of animal dealers.[1] The law requires that the USDA enact standards “to govern the humane handling, care, treatment, and transportation of […]
Livestock Death Before Slaughter
How many pigs die or are killed prior to slaughter? In 2025, more than 42 million pigs were killed or died before being slaughtered for human meat consumption.[1-7 The overall death rate prior to slaughter increased from 2020 through 2023. Although there was a slight drop in deaths of wean-to-finish pigs and breeding sows, […]
Twenty-Eight Hour Law
What is the Twenty-Eight Hour Law This federal law addresses the transportation of animals across state lines within the U.S. Originally enacted in 1873 to protect cattle that were shipped in rail cars, it was codified in Title 49 of the U.S. Code which is dedicated to transportation and generally requires that animals transported by […]
Pig Factory Farm Sizes
4 KEY POINTS – Pig Factory Farm Sizes 1. A typical pig farm sells ~54,000 pigs in a year, maintaining an inventory of ~32,000 pigs. 2. A typical pig finishing house or shed is about 20,000 square feet, generally holding 1,000- 2,500 pigs per shed or house. 3. A common size pen is about 190 […]
Water Usage & Scarcity Takeaways
Water Usage & Scarcity Takeaways Takeaways are key points detailed and referenced in the Water Usage & Scarcity section Agricultural Water Consumption Water consumption has more impact than water withdrawals; consumed water is not returned to its original source and is not available for reuse. Agriculture accounts for ~80% of total U.S. water consumption, mostly […]
Infographic – Animal Ag Water Usage
This shows some key figures for animal ag’s consumption of total U.S. water. It breaks down use by crop specifically used for animal feed and livestock production and offers offers a snapshot of how polluted water and scarcity are interconnected. click here to download
Infographic – Agricultural Water Usage
This shows some key figures for agricultural water usage and animal agriculture in particular. It focuses on water consumption, which is the critical measure of usage since water consumed does not return to its original source. click here to download
Slaughter & Processing Wages
What is the average wage for “frontline” workers in animal slaughter and processing? As of May 2023, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimated the wages for workers (using the Standard Occupational Classification, which groups workers by the duties they perform) in the Animal Slaughtering and Processing industries as follows:[1] The weighted average mean […]
Age & Weight at Slaughter – Poultry
At what age are broiler chickens slaughtered? On average, broiler chickens (chickens raised for meat) reach slaughter weight in 47 days.[1,2] The National Chicken Council estimates that this figure has remained at 47-48 days since 1990.[3] A 2011 USDA survey reported that, on average, the smallest broilers reach slaughter weight at about 38 days and […]