The pigs are allowed to move freely out of the vehicle, on to the offloading ramp, and continue to the lairage facility. The offloading ramps are adjustable with non-slip flooring. Reducing stress levels at offloading represents a duty of care for those handling the animals. At the abattoirs, all those working with live animals must attend a basic course to train them in best practice in handling the pigs.

After offloading and veterinary inspection, the pigs are led into well ventilated lairaging pens with access to drinking water. The lairages are equipped with sprinklers to cool the pigs in hot weather. Normally, the pigs stay here for no more than one hour. If pigs have to stay at the abattoir overnight, they are fed, watered and properly tended.

The pigs are gently led from the lairage to the stunning chamber in groups of five to eight animals, where they are painlessly stunned using carbon dioxide. The use of carbon dioxide stunning is based on recommendations by Danish animal scientists and extensive research has shown that, in a modern slaughterhouse, this system delivers clear welfare advantages over other systems available.

The Danish Veterinary Services supervise offloading, lairaging and stunning facilities.