Humane Slaughter: How We Ensure a Calm and Respectful End

Slaughter is not a subject many farms talk about openly. We believe it should be.

If we are asking you to trust us with your food, then that trust must extend to every stage of an animal’s life, including its final moments. High welfare does not end at the farm gate. In many ways, it matters most there.

As an organic and regenerative livestock farm in East Devon, producing 100 percent grass fed beef and lamb alongside pasture-raised poultry, we believe a calm, humane end is a fundamental part of responsible farming.

Why Slaughter Standards Matter

Over the past decade, consumers have become increasingly concerned about how animals are treated, not only while they are being raised, but also at the point of slaughter. Long journeys, high throughput industrial systems, and a lack of transparency have led many people to question modern food supply chains.

For us, the answer is simple. Keep things local. Keep them small scale. Keep them calm.

Stress immediately before slaughter affects both animal welfare and meat quality. Elevated stress hormones can negatively impact texture and flavour. Minimising stress is not only the right thing to do ethically, it also results in better meat.

Small, Local Abattoirs

We work exclusively with trusted local abattoirs who share our commitment to high welfare.

Our cattle and sheep are processed at Gages Farm in Ashburton, Devon. Animals are transported only a short distance from the farm. On arrival, they are unloaded quietly and given time to settle. There is no shouting, no rushing, and no overcrowding.

They are humanely stunned using a captive bolt. This renders the animal instantly unconscious and insensible to pain. The stun is irreversible, meaning the animal does not regain consciousness. Bleeding then follows while the animal remains fully unconscious.

Our poultry are processed at Otter Valley Poultry near Honiton, a specialist poultry abattoir. Birds are rendered instantly insensible through carefully controlled electrical stunning before further processing.

Both facilities operate at a smaller scale than large industrial plants. This allows for a quieter environment and more careful handling. Government veterinary inspectors are present daily to monitor welfare and ensure full regulatory compliance.

Keeping Travel to a Minimum

Distance matters. Long transport times increase stress and fatigue. By working with abattoirs close to the farm, our animals avoid extended journeys.

Shorter supply chains also mean greater traceability. We know exactly where each animal goes, and you can too.

Transparency and Responsibility

We do not shy away from explaining how this process works. Farming animals for meat carries responsibility. Part of that responsibility is ensuring the end of life is handled with care, skill and respect.

From the moment animals leave our fields to the time meat is prepared for your order, every stage is overseen with the same principles that guide our regenerative farming system. Calm handling. Short journeys. Humane stunning. Skilled butchery.

If we believe in eating meat, then we must also believe in doing it properly. For us, that means facing the subject of slaughter directly and ensuring it is carried out as humanely and respectfully as possible.