Stress-Free Death of Cattle: Small Scale Farmers’ Perspectives on On-Farm Slaughter (OFS) in Switzerland

Legal in Switzerland since 2020, on-farm slaughter (OFS) represents a promising alternative for stress-free slaughter in small-scale agricultural context. Our study provides an in-depth qualitative examination of the implementation of OFS, including technical details, farmers’ motivations for adopting OFS, outcomes, and perceived benefits, based on the experiences of eight Swiss farmers. The study was conducted in two main phases. We first examined regulatory sources to understand the governance of OFS. Then, we explored the different approaches farmers have chosen to implement OFS on site. Our findings explain how Swiss farmers adopt OFS based on ethical concerns and sustainable practical considerations, particularly in relation to animal welfare and food quality. In their communication and marketing activities, these farmers openly disclose their OFS slaughter process, to provide transparency for consumers facing ethical dilemmas. This commitment contributes to the production of high-quality ‘stress-free meat’ that aligns with modern consumer preferences. In summary, our study contributes to the academic literature by providing the first empirical analysis of the farmer perspective on commercial on-farm slaughter, combining the regulatory context, farmer statements, and hands-on observations to provide a comprehensive and holistic understanding of its uptake and impact.